In brief: Live ammunition in Waipā council recycling
Monday, 5 August 2024
Ammunition in recycling
A rusty 12-gauge shotgun cartridge was found in Waipā District Council’s recycling - the latest of a long list hazardous material.
The live ammunition was found on the sorting-line conveyor belt at the Te Awamutu recycling plant on Friday.
And it’s “sheer luck” it didn’t hurt anyone, the council says.
The incident has prompted further calls from the council for people to get their recycling sorted.
Group manager service delivery Dawn Inglis said the shotgun cartridge could have had a devastating impact on staff and equipment at the recycling plant.
“For the cartridge to have made it through the truck compactors and the plant loader unscathed was sheer luck, it could have gone off at any stage.”
Hazardous materials are only a part of the contamination of recycling costing ratepayers up to $30,000 per month in disposal fees.
In the past month, staff have had to contend with loose needles and a deer carcass that made its way into recycling.
Anyone wanting to dispose of ammunition should contact their local gun shop or hunting store to find the best way to do so safely.
Missions for rescue helicopter
A hunter injured in a remote part of the Tongariro Forest had to be airlifted to Waikato Hospital.
On Saturday morning, the Waikato Westpac rescue helicopter headed to a man in his 30s who was seriously injured while hunting. Due to the remote location, the man had to be extracted by winch, a statement said.
He was treated on scene by the onboard critical care flight paramedic before being flown to Waikato Hospital.
The helicopter also transported a man in his 70s who was experiencing a serious medical condition to Waikato Hospital.
And on Sunday afternoon, a teenage boy was airlifted from Tokoroa after falling from his motorbike, sustaining serious injuries.
He was taken to Auckland Hospital.
Crash on Wairere Drive
One person was left in a serious condition after a crash between a motorcycle and a car on Wairere Drive this afternoon.
Police received a report of the crash at 4.50pm.
One of the vehicles involved left the scene following the crash. Police are making enquired to locate it.
St Johns confirmed that one person had serious injuries from the crash, and was taken to Waikato Hospital.