Central Otago WasteBusters will install a glass-crushing plant on-site at Boundary Rd in Alexandra if it gets funding of $10,000 from the Central Otago District Council.
The council's infrastructure subcommittee resolved at a meeting in Alexandra this week to support the funding application, which could be formally approved by the council's operations committee as an overspend in April.
The glass-crushing plant could be operational in March, and would have the capacity to crush at least one tonne of glass every hour, which would take care of the growing stockpile of glass at the property.
CODC waste minimisation officer Sophie Mander said the use of glass containers had greatly increased in recent years and a 2686-tonne glass mountain was taking up vital space at WasteBusters.
It was growing by 51 tonnes a month, she said.
The proposed small-scale glass crushing machine comprised a 6m platform and a 3m by 4m adjacent collection bay, the construction of which would cost most of the $10,000.
Several businesses in Central Otago had expressed interest in sourcing crushed glass for use in different materials including concrete and aggregate, as well as for mulch on vineyards and orchards.
The subcommittee also supported $228,230 of funding for WasteBusters in the 2008 and 2009 financial year.
The council had supported WasteBusters financially since 2000 as it was obliged to make sure the district had appropriate waste collection and minimisation operations.
