The Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust, which runs the resource recovery park in Oamaru, is restructuring to reduce fixed costs following a drop in revenue because of low prices for recycled material.
That will mean the loss of one fulltime equivalent position by combining three positions into two and talking to other staff about the hours they worked, trust board chairman Neville Langrish said this week.
''Like any other business affected by a drop in revenue, we have to look at how we can run at a profit.''
At the same time, the trust was also investigating initiatives to expand the business which, in the long term, could increase staff, he said.
Trust manager Marian Shore said the trust, like other recycling organisations around the country, was being hit by the downturn in the market and lower prices for recyclables.
''Some changes were needed so the trust could operate within its budget,'' she said.
The trust worked hard to ensure it continued to ''provide an awesome recycling, resource recovery and waste disposal service''.
''After some hard thinking, we have made the difficult decision to make some changes to our staffing and cut our costs where possible.''
The trust was committed to looking at other ways to strengthen its business - it recently erected a four-bay shed for large items to be sold in good condition and bought a truck for pickups and deliveries.
A relationship was being developed with the building and construction industry, which would offer a viable alternative for recycling.
''We are optimistic we can turn things around in the longer term,'' she said.
