Latest news with #NigelClarke
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Council issues warning with three strikes bin plan to combat 'upsetting' problem
Misuse your bin and you'll lose it. That's the message from a council in New Zealand that's fed up with people mixing the wrong items in with their recycling and compost. The problem is so bad in a community southeast of Auckland that Whakatāne District Council had to send 745 tonnes of green waste to landfill because it was contaminated with items that shouldn't go in the green bin, costing ratepayers NZD$143,000 ($138,000). In some cases, 67 per cent of waste was contaminated — the average is still a staggering 23.5 per cent — and this has meant one major recycling facility has refused to take the region's waste unless it's pre-sorted. 'It's quite upsetting when you see the stuff going to landfill… so we thought it was about time we actually took some steps to target the minority that aren't using the service correctly,' council's solid waste manager Nigel Clarke told Yahoo News Australia. Related: Aussie woman makes $15,000 from recycling scheme Similar trials have been undertaken in Australia, where residents were threatened with fines after three strikes in one Adelaide local government area. But across the ditch, the plan will see Whakatāne residents given two written warnings, and if problems persist, their recycling or green-waste bins will be taken away for three months. Whakatāne District Council isn't the first to trial confiscation in New Zealand, with South Waikato Hastings, Southland, and Hamilton all using similar methods. New Plymouth Council introduced its three strikes program after dead animals, nappies and even a shotgun were placed inside recycling bins. Addressing Whakatāne's own programs, Clarke said garbage collectors often find black plastic bags of rubbish and clothing in green bins. Pictures supplied to Yahoo show yellow bins full of building materials, and soft plastics that can't be processed by council and need to be taken to Woolworths. 'The odd things we've had are a deer carcass in the recycling, a whole toilet in the recycling,' Clarke said. 🗑️ Shoppers 'so happy' to see return of popular Woolworths initiative 🛒 Supermarkets reveal fate of 11,000 tonnes of soft plastics ✈️ Jetstar passenger request raises questions about recycling When residents have their green and yellow bins confiscated, they'll need to place recycling and garden waste in their regular bin, meaning it will go to landfill. And although that's regrettable, it will stop those households from contaminating everyone else's well-sorted waste. Bins will be returned after three months, but if the problem persists they'll be confiscated again. Clarke believes there are two reasons some residents don't 'do the right thing', a lack of education or indifference to recycling. Council has tried education programs in the past, and will renew them before the confiscation plan begins. 'The three strikes campaign will just have an effect on those who have a general disregard for the service,' he said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Three strikes and you lose your bin
A yellow-top recycling bin filled with items that are not accepted at the Tauranga Material Recovery Facility where the bins' contents are taken. Photos supplied Photo: LDR Whakatāne District Council plans to bring in strict penalties for those who continually put incorrect items in their recycling and greenwaste bins. Three strikes and perpetrators will have their large yellow or green lidded bins confiscated for three months. Solid waste manager Nigel Clarke recently presented the mayor and councillors with a plan for how to tackle the high amounts of unrecyclable waste making its way to the Material Recovery Facility in Tauranga every week and into the compost being made at the Keepa Road greenwaste facility through kerbside collections. The Tauranga facility reports incorrect items can sometimes make up as much as 65 percent of recycling they receive from Whakatāne district. The average so far this year has been 25 percent. The facility will not accept kerbside recycling from Murupara at all because of the high level of contamination. The Murupara recycling bins must first be pre-sorted in Whakatāne. Clarke said the contractor that recycles Whakatāne greenwaste into compost will no longer accept kerbside greenwaste. It had not been able to sell the finished product because of the large amount of uncompostable items place in bins by households. The council recently had to dispose of over 475 tonnes of compost from the Keepa Road site to landfill at a cost of $143,000. Clarke said people needed to think of recycling and greenwaste as a product that they were trying to sell. Contamination devalued it. Unrecyclable items dumped at the Tauranga Material Recovery Facility from Whakatāne kerbside bins. Photo: LDR "Imagine if you go to the supermarket and buy a sealed bag of potatoes. If you open up that bag and find it's 50 percent soil you're not going to buy that brand of potatoes again. It's the same with our kerbside recycling. If it's full of things that shouldn't be there, the industry doesn't want it." Most households did the right thing and educational programmes did work to a point, but there was evidence that some households just didn't want to recycle correctly. "Some don't want to be educated. Some will purposely hide contamination underneath other items." He plans to launch a greenwaste contamination education campaign in July which will introduce a system in which anyone placing incorrect items in their greenwaste bins will be issued a warning letter and flyer. If a third letter must be issued their bin will be confiscated for three months. The perpetrator would not be eligible for a deduction in rates due to this service being removed. A similar programme for recycling bins was planned for October. Clarke said the problem of kerbside recycling contamination was not restricted to Whakatāne but was a nationwide issue. He said several other councils around the country had taken similar steps to address the problem. Information about items that can be placed in greenwaste and recycling bins is available on the council's website. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's balanced monetary policy, flexible exchange rate boost resilience: IMF's Clarke
Egypt - Nigel Clarke, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stated that the Central Bank of Egypt's (CBE) balanced monetary policy and adoption of a flexible exchange rate have enhanced the Egyptian economy's ability to withstand external fluctuations. His remarks followed a Monday meeting with Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, where they discussed ways to support and strengthen cooperation and monitor developments in Egypt's economic reform programme. Clarke affirmed in statements after the meeting that the discussions 'represented an important opportunity to reaffirm the strength and solidity of the partnership between the International Monetary Fund and Egypt.' In a post on the X platform, he added, 'We discussed ways to enhance the resilience of the Egyptian economy in the face of external shocks, and we stressed the importance of continuing to implement policies that promote economic stability.' The IMF Deputy Managing Director indicated that 'the Central Bank of Egypt's adoption of a flexible exchange rate system, along with pursuing a balanced monetary policy, has had a direct positive impact on strengthening the Egyptian economy's ability to cope with global fluctuations, curb inflation, and increase remittances from Egyptians working abroad, reflecting the state's commitment to effective and sustainable economic reforms.' He also noted that Egypt has made 'notable progress' on inflation and remittances from Egyptians abroad. The meeting included a comprehensive review of positive developments in macroeconomic indicators, against the backdrop of the state's efforts within the national economic reform programme, which receives technical and financial support from the IMF. Discussions also touched upon measures taken to stimulate investment and increase foreign currency inflows, particularly through remittances from Egyptians working abroad, alongside ongoing coordination between the central bank and the government in addressing inflationary pressures and supporting a downward trend in prices. The visit of the IMF Deputy Managing Director to Egypt comes in the context of continuous follow-up on the implementation of joint cooperation programmes and to affirm the Fund's commitment to supporting the Egyptian state's efforts towards achieving comprehensive and sustainable economic growth.
Daily News Egypt
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's balanced monetary policy, flexible exchange rate boost resilience: IMF's Clarke
Nigel Clarke, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stated that the Central Bank of Egypt's (CBE) balanced monetary policy and adoption of a flexible exchange rate have enhanced the Egyptian economy's ability to withstand external fluctuations. His remarks followed a Monday meeting with Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, where they discussed ways to support and strengthen cooperation and monitor developments in Egypt's economic reform programme. Clarke affirmed in statements after the meeting that the discussions 'represented an important opportunity to reaffirm the strength and solidity of the partnership between the International Monetary Fund and Egypt.' In a post on the X platform, he added, 'We discussed ways to enhance the resilience of the Egyptian economy in the face of external shocks, and we stressed the importance of continuing to implement policies that promote economic stability.' The IMF Deputy Managing Director indicated that 'the Central Bank of Egypt's adoption of a flexible exchange rate system, along with pursuing a balanced monetary policy, has had a direct positive impact on strengthening the Egyptian economy's ability to cope with global fluctuations, curb inflation, and increase remittances from Egyptians working abroad, reflecting the state's commitment to effective and sustainable economic reforms.' He also noted that Egypt has made 'notable progress' on inflation and remittances from Egyptians abroad. The meeting included a comprehensive review of positive developments in macroeconomic indicators, against the backdrop of the state's efforts within the national economic reform programme, which receives technical and financial support from the IMF. Discussions also touched upon measures taken to stimulate investment and increase foreign currency inflows, particularly through remittances from Egyptians working abroad, alongside ongoing coordination between the central bank and the government in addressing inflationary pressures and supporting a downward trend in prices. The visit of the IMF Deputy Managing Director to Egypt comes in the context of continuous follow-up on the implementation of joint cooperation programmes and to affirm the Fund's commitment to supporting the Egyptian state's efforts towards achieving comprehensive and sustainable economic growth.
Daily News Egypt
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt made 'tangible and clear progress: IMF Deputy Managing Director
Nigel Clarke, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Sunday evening expressed optimism regarding the future performance of the Egyptian economy, citing tangible progress in its macroeconomic reform programme. He made the remarks during a press conference held by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. At the beginning of his speech, Clarke thanked the Prime Minister, the Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, and the Ministers of Planning and Economic Development, and Finance. He expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and hospitality extended to him and his accompanying delegation since their arrival in Egypt. Clarke affirmed that Egypt has made 'tangible and clear progress' regarding its macroeconomic reform programme, which he described as 'plain to see.' He stated, 'this programme, an Egyptian programme, has resulted in a strong decline in inflation and unemployment rates, while foreign exchange reserve levels have jumped, alongside the availability and abundance of foreign currencies. This is no longer a problem as it was before. We have also witnessed a steady increase in GDP growth rates, while the Egyptian economy is on its way to stability.' The IMF official attributed these 'important positive results' of the Egyptian economic reform programme to 'the bold decisions and actions led by the Egyptian government.' He noted that these reforms include 'the shift towards a flexible exchange rate system, the adoption of a monetary policy that took economic stability as its basis, as well as the strenuous efforts being made to mobilise domestic revenues to ensure a sustainable and stable fiscal policy.' Clarke also noted that progress in Egypt's economic reform programme 'also includes the social dimension and providing support for the most needy groups.' He stated, 'I welcome these reforms that have led to these positive results,' and called for the continued implementation of the economic reform programme. Addressing the role of the private sector, Clarke pointed to 'the increase in the percentage of financing provided to the private sector, and the increase in the private sector's share of GDP as well.' He added, 'This all came as a direct response to the improvement and stability witnessed by the macroeconomy.' The IMF official explained that a rapid transition to a more sustainable economic model requires 'an economic model in which the private sector leads growth and economic activity, and this is indeed the current path, and what we are moving forward together to accelerate, so that the state's role in economic activity is reduced, making way for the private sector and promoting equal opportunities for different economic sectors.' He continued, 'This will enhance the dynamism of the economy and lead to attracting investments locally as well as international investments, and it will also lead to achieving more progress and prosperity for the Egyptian economy, and most importantly, this will lead to a more sustainable economic model.' Clarke also discussed economic shocks, which he described as 'a prominent feature in the current global economic system.' He explained that 'what is most important and sensitive for this region is how the economy can be resilient to absorb such economic shocks,' stressing that 'achieving that resilience depends strongly on economic stability and continuous efforts to transition to a more stable economic model.' He expressed the IMF's appreciation for its 'extended partnership with Egypt,' which he described as 'an important member of the Fund.' Mr Clarke affirmed that 'the International Monetary Fund will continue to provide support to Egypt to complete the implementation of bold economic reforms, contributing to achieving positive results for the Egyptian people.' Concluding his remarks, Clarke thanked the attendees and reiterated his optimism regarding the Egyptian economy's ability to achieve positive results in the future.
