Latest news with #WasteManagementandMinimisationPlan
Otago Daily Times
16-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Food waste a headache for councils
There are no easy solutions to managing food waste, Kaikōura district councillors were told at a workshop on June 11. The viability of the kerbside collection of food waste is one of the questions being considered as part of the Kaikōura District Council's Waste Management and Minimisation Plan review. Kaikōura District Council senior advisor Dave Clibbery compared the waste management plans of 17 councils to help begin the review. Managing food waste is a challenge for councils around the country, he said. ''A lot of food waste is still going to landfill. It used to be that not many councils had ways to capture food waste, but now a number do have food waste schemes. ''Processing food waste is harder than processing green waste because of the smell, which can deter people from using the service and the relatively high cost.'' The Kaikōura district produced around 30kg of food waste per person each year, similar to large urban areas such as Auckland. Around 60 tonnes a year of food waste is processed through Innovative Waste Kaikōura, Clibbery said. But the use of the fortnightly kerbside collection service is low, as 95 percent of food waste is brought directly to the resource recovery centre. Several councils, including Wellington City Council, are encouraging home composting in preference to kerbside collection. Overall Kaikōura compared favourably with other parts of the country, sending 400kg of rubbish to landfill compared to the national average of 600kg. ''But we need to recognise we don't have the volume of building waste compared to large urban areas,'' Clibbery said. ''Auckland Council seems to be most innovative, with a target of zero waste to landfill by 2040, but even they realise there is only so much councils can do. ''Councils are really the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Serious waste minimisation requires action by central Government.'' Some options for Kaikōura to consider include establishing a repair cafe and promoting waste minimisation and recycling efforts. There are now 75 repair cafes around the country, including the Amberley Repair Cafe, which help to reduce waste and provide a social activity, Clibbery said. Repair cafes can be offered in collaboration with community groups, such as men's sheds. Initiatives such as the Enviroschools programme, in pre-schools and primary schools, have been successful in changing behaviours. But it needs a receptive audience, Clibbery said. ''It's not easy to promote waste minimisation. In the early days when zero waste was a fresh and exciting thing it was much easier to get people engaged.'' By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Have Your Say On The District's Proposed Waste Management And Minimisation Plan 2025
Press Release – Queenstown Lakes District Council Although legislation requires Council to write the WMMP, the plan will only be successful if everyone in our community works together to make it happen. Together Towards Zero Waste And A Circular Economy Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has today released its draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) and is asking the community to have its say during the public consultation from today until 30 June, with the ambitious goal of creating a waste-free future for our district. After being adopted for consultation by Council yesterday, the draft WMMP outlines a bold vision to move together towards zero waste and a circular economy. The plan focuses on an approach that avoids waste altogether by changing our behaviours, or manages waste and used materials better with the right tools, services, and facilities. As part of developing the draft, QLDC hosted stakeholder workshops and a public webinar in September 2024. Input from these sessions helped shape the priorities and actions outlined in the plan. 'We've worked with key groups in our community to shape a new direction for how we respond to the waste challenges in our district. Council has an important part to play in leading this work, but minimising our waste will require our community to work together, collaborating on opportunities and making change happen,' said Cllr Gavin Bartlett, QLDC Infrastructure Committee Chair and member of the waste working group. Although legislation requires Council to write the WMMP, the plan will only be successful if everyone in our community works together to make it happen. 'Changing the story of how our district's waste is minimised or managed relies on working together on innovative but achievable solutions. This WMMP is a draft, and we invite everyone to provide feedback on whether you think these are the right actions to take, together,' said Sophie Mander, QLDC Strategy Planning Manager (Waste Minimisation). The plan is updated every six years under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and outlines how the district will manage and reduce waste. Since the 2018 plan was adopted, progress has included a new three-bin kerbside collection service, boosted public education, introduced community composting hubs and the annual Waste Minimisation Community Fund, and furthered a commitment to a future kerbside organics collection. Partnerships with local organisations including Wastebusters, Sustainable Queenstown, and Wao have also been key to helping reduce waste. 'Progress has been made, but there's still a long way to go,' said Sophie. 'This is a crucial opportunity for the community to help us define the next chapter.' Community members can explore the plan and contribute further via an online engagement platform. Various public engagement opportunities will also be held over June.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Have Your Say On The District's Proposed Waste Management And Minimisation Plan 2025
Together Towards Zero Waste And A Circular Economy Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has today released its draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) and is asking the community to have its say during the public consultation from today until 30 June, with the ambitious goal of creating a waste-free future for our district. After being adopted for consultation by Council yesterday, the draft WMMP outlines a bold vision to move together towards zero waste and a circular economy. The plan focuses on an approach that avoids waste altogether by changing our behaviours, or manages waste and used materials better with the right tools, services, and facilities. As part of developing the draft, QLDC hosted stakeholder workshops and a public webinar in September 2024. Input from these sessions helped shape the priorities and actions outlined in the plan. 'We've worked with key groups in our community to shape a new direction for how we respond to the waste challenges in our district. Council has an important part to play in leading this work, but minimising our waste will require our community to work together, collaborating on opportunities and making change happen," said Cllr Gavin Bartlett, QLDC Infrastructure Committee Chair and member of the waste working group. Although legislation requires Council to write the WMMP, the plan will only be successful if everyone in our community works together to make it happen. 'Changing the story of how our district's waste is minimised or managed relies on working together on innovative but achievable solutions. This WMMP is a draft, and we invite everyone to provide feedback on whether you think these are the right actions to take, together,' said Sophie Mander, QLDC Strategy Planning Manager (Waste Minimisation). The plan is updated every six years under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and outlines how the district will manage and reduce waste. Since the 2018 plan was adopted, progress has included a new three-bin kerbside collection service, boosted public education, introduced community composting hubs and the annual Waste Minimisation Community Fund, and furthered a commitment to a future kerbside organics collection. Partnerships with local organisations including Wastebusters, Sustainable Queenstown, and Wao have also been key to helping reduce waste. 'Progress has been made, but there's still a long way to go,' said Sophie. 'This is a crucial opportunity for the community to help us define the next chapter.' Community members can explore the plan and contribute further via an online engagement platform. Various public engagement opportunities will also be held over June.
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Porirua City Council To Launch Pilot Waste Minimisation Grant Scheme
Press Release – Porirua City Council Starting in the 2025/26 financial year, part of the funds received by Porirua City Council from the Waste Levy Subsidy will be used to provide community grants to groups with projects that will encourage reuse, repurposing and recycling capacity in the … A pilot scheme offering grants to Porirua projects that enable waste minimisation in the city was approved at a full Porirua City Council meeting this morning. Starting in the 2025/26 financial year, part of the funds received by Porirua City Council from the Waste Levy Subsidy will be used to provide community grants to groups with projects that will encourage reuse, repurposing and recycling capacity in the city. The scheme will initially run as a 12-month pilot to gauge the level of demand and the types of projects sought. There will be two levels of funding available for projects. The first will be grants of up to $30,000 that will become available in a single application round. The second will be grants of up to $2000 which can be applied for year round. Establishing this grant is part of the enacting Porirua City's 2023-29 Waste Management and Minimisation Plan. Porirua City Councillor Geoff Hayward, who represents Porirua City on the Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Joint Committee, says this scheme will empower communities in the city. 'It's the kind of initiative that reflects the best of what local government can do. It's backing communities to lead solutions using existing levers wisely. 'It will reduce pressure on rates and support our goal to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.' Waste minimisation initiatives could include new projects that reduce waste at the source and encourage movement towards a circular economy. Projects that focus on reduction, redesign, reuse, repair and repurpose will also be considered. 'We want to see initiatives that create new opportunities and encourage community participation in waste minimisation,' says Councillor Hayward. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says this is a positive move for waste reduction in Porirua. 'This is another way that we can work towards making our communities more healthy and encourage more people to get involved in positive outcomes.' The grant scheme will now be developed with more information to come once the details have been finalised.
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Porirua City Council To Launch Pilot Waste Minimisation Grant Scheme
A pilot scheme offering grants to Porirua projects that enable waste minimisation in the city was approved at a full Porirua City Council meeting this morning. Starting in the 2025/26 financial year, part of the funds received by Porirua City Council from the Waste Levy Subsidy will be used to provide community grants to groups with projects that will encourage reuse, repurposing and recycling capacity in the city. The scheme will initially run as a 12-month pilot to gauge the level of demand and the types of projects sought. There will be two levels of funding available for projects. The first will be grants of up to $30,000 that will become available in a single application round. The second will be grants of up to $2000 which can be applied for year round. Establishing this grant is part of the enacting Porirua City's 2023-29 Waste Management and Minimisation Plan. Porirua City Councillor Geoff Hayward, who represents Porirua City on the Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Joint Committee, says this scheme will empower communities in the city. "It's the kind of initiative that reflects the best of what local government can do. It's backing communities to lead solutions using existing levers wisely. "It will reduce pressure on rates and support our goal to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill." Waste minimisation initiatives could include new projects that reduce waste at the source and encourage movement towards a circular economy. Projects that focus on reduction, redesign, reuse, repair and repurpose will also be considered. "We want to see initiatives that create new opportunities and encourage community participation in waste minimisation," says Councillor Hayward. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says this is a positive move for waste reduction in Porirua. "This is another way that we can work towards making our communities more healthy and encourage more people to get involved in positive outcomes." The grant scheme will now be developed with more information to come once the details have been finalised.
