A record-breaking recycling effort receives high praise from the people who notice it the most — AllBrites Transfer Station.

AllBrites branch manager Scott Dally said he had not seen this volume of recycling in the seven years he had worked at the transfer station — and the product coming through was cleaner and well-sorted.

Kerbside recycling increased by 100 tonnes — up from 200 tonnes to 300 tonnes in the past two weeks.

Gisborne people and out-of-towners alike were coming in to drop off their recycling at AllBrites.

“We had an average of 300 vehicles a day through the drop-off station for two weeks. We normally get 50 to 60 vehicles a day.

“People from out of town knew the drop-off was here and they used it. Everyone needs to complimented.

“People are busy, yet they still made time to recycle in heat that was between 30 and 50 degrees.”

On top of residential rubbish, AllBrites worked beside Sustainable Coastlines and BW Campgrounds processing tonnes and tonnes of rubbish.

Mr Dally said considering the volumes that were dealt with, he took his hat off to all staff who “worked their hearts out”.

“They worked Christmas Day and Boxing Day and they pulled together and did a fantastic job.”

“I’ve never seen that volume here in seven years.

“It was coming in faster than we could get it out.

Mr Dally said trucks and trailers came in constantly
to take the rubbish and recycling to their next destination.

Plastic, cardboard and paper went to Napier and Tauranga, with glass to Auckland and Tauranga.

“Napier actually asked us to use someone else — we were sending them too much.”

Mr Dally said the biggest difference this year, besides the volume, was that people were cleaning their recycling properly and sorting it.

“We are trying to get our products so clean that we can sell it directly from Gisborne. The cleaner the product, the more value it has.”

Mr Dally said the final figures on rubbish and recycling would not be known until tomorrow.

“But I can tell you this — the numbers are huge. I think the team here deserves kudos, BW Campground did a great job, so did Sustainable Coastlines, and so did the public who cleaned and sorted their recycling.”