WELLINGTON City Council will continue to collect glass through kerbside recycling even though nobody wants it.

Glass recycler ACI Glass is reducing the price it pays for the glass collected by council in response to a market glut.

Local Government New Zealand spokesperson Lyn Maye says because New Zealanders are such good recyclers, more clear glass is being collected than can be recycled.

"We are recovering more than we can recycle in this country. We are doing a very good job of recovering, which is to be applauded but unfortunately at the moment we don’t have the capacity to deal with the amount that is coming through."

However, WCC spokesman Richard McLean says the price cut will not affect local kerbside recycling.

"Things changing with the recycling of glass doesn’t mean that we stop offering the recycling of glass as a service. The Wellington City Council are going to carry on regardless in terms of glass recycling because to do otherwise would be environmentally irresponsible."

95,000 tonnes are recovered annually in New Zealand, and 20% of that is clear glass.

At present 20% of the glass recovered is sent to Australia to be processed, leading to added costs.

"It’s related to transport and the fact that there is glass being recovered that exceeds the capacity of ACI to process. It’s currently costing more to recycle than it is to collect it. Clear glass is the one with the least market for it in terms of recycling."

Last week key players in the glass and recycling industries as well as Local Government New Zealand, working through independent consultants Covec, met to discuss the future of glass collection – a resolution is yet to be reached. Maye will not name the companies involved.

"Before we actually make a statement we just want to get everything sorted. We will be able to announce a decision soon. We’re talking days not weeks."