Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds tells residents to keep recycling amid recycling plant debacle

The Hobart Lord Mayor has given an update on the future of the region’s embattled SKM recycling plant amid concerns rubbish is piling up.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds at an open Hobart City Council meeting to discuss building heights. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

HOBART Lord Mayor says council is “working as hard as it can” to keep Tasmania’s embattled SKM recycling plant open.

Images emerged last week of recycling materials piled at the recycling facility which sparked fears of recyclables ending up in landfill.

Speaking on ABC radio this morning Cr Reynolds said the council was working closely with SKM to guarantee materials don’t end up in landfill.

“We’re working as hard as we can to ensure that won’t be the solution,” she said.

“We’re working with SKM administrators and hoping they keep the Lutana plant open.”

Director of the Tasmanian Conservation Trust Peter McGlone at the SKM recycling plant in Hobart, Tasmania, Friday August 16 2019

It follows criticism from the Tasmanian Conservation Trust last week about southern councils’ failure to honestly inform the community about the future of recycling following the insolvency of SKM Recycling on August 2.

Cr Reynolds encouraged all Greater Hobart residents to continue recycling as normal while the council continued monitoring the situation.