Shire of Capel blames ‘tragic miscommunication’ after 10,000 containers meant for recycling are landfilled

A South West shire has blamed a “tragic miscommunication” for the dumping of 10,000 containers in landfill — after they were collected as part of a new recycling initiative. Collected for its Container Deposit Scheme, the Shire of Capel admitted the containers were discarded alongside other general waste on Sunday, instead of taken for recycling. Shire president Michael Southwell said they were “mortified” by the error, which occurred directly after a special event to promote the recycling scheme – which launches on October 1 – in the region. On Sunday, about 130 people took to the Boyanup Farmer’s Market with their cans and bottles which they had been collecting for months, placing them in several 120L and 240L recycling bins and a skip bin. More than 15,000 containers were collected at the event — which the shire hosted in partnership with Watch Your Waste South West and WA Local Government Association — but only a third of them made it to recycling. Cr Southwell said the smaller bins were taken to recycling, but the contractor who picked up the skip bin – which was holding about 10,000 containers worth $1000 through the scheme – took it to landfill. “It appears there has been a tragic miscommunication or lack of communication by those involved, which includes our end at the shire,” he said. “We’re not sure exactly whose fault it is but unfortunately some of the cans were taken to a landfill site. “Everyone’s mortified by the news and we’ll do everything in our power to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Acting chief executive Mark Chester said they were alerted to the error on Monday, after the contractor who took the bin to landfill called saying: “I think we have a problem”. “We’re still trying to establish how it happened,” he said. “It’s an absolute disaster in terms of promoting recycling. All I can do is apologise on behalf of the shire and those involved, we wish we could turn back the clock.” Cr Southwell urged residents not to be disheartened by the weekend’s events and moving forward, encouraging them to continue collecting containers for the State-wide scheme. “We don’t want people to lose faith in the recycling system in place,” he said. “It’s regrettable and we apologise for it and are doing everything in our power to make sure there is no repeat.” Cr Southwell said everyone who brought containers to the event had been paid the 10 cents through WALGA funding.