New waste plan calls for more recycling, less landfill

Halve the amount of waste going into landfills by 2013 is the target set out in the Far North District Council’s new Waste Management and Minimisation Plan which comes into effect from 01 June this year.
“This is an ambitious goal but one that can be achieved through a combination of improved management on the Council's part and improved recycling on the part of the community,” General Manager for Infrastructure and Assets David Penny said today.

“Waste minimisation is the way of the future. The idea is that we start viewing waste as a resource and think carefully about exactly what it is we are planning to throw out before we consign it to the rubbish bin.
“We cannot keep building new landfills – they are expensive to build and maintain and environmentally unacceptable. On this basis it's logical that we should be looking to keep our future landfill requirements to an absolute minimum,” he said.

The new plan was developed from a strategy which went out to public consultation earlier this year and attracted overwhelming support in favour of waste minimisation options.

"The ultimate objective would be to achieve a zero waste position. In the meantime the emphasis in the plan is on progressively reducing the volume of waste going to landfills," David Penny said.

The goal was to reduce waste before it entered the waste stream and to ensure that recyclable materials and products were recovered. To encourage the public to take personal responsibility for waste, the plan sought to create an environment which offered incentives.

Recycling drop-off facilities and collection services across the district are being expanded.

“As well as bottles, cans, plastic and paper, you can now drop off old computers and other e-waste at all our Refuse Transfer Stations. We have also set up community recycling drop-off points at Rawene, Whangaroa, Maromaku, Motutau, Okaihau and Horeke," he said.

Seasonal recycling was available at Te Uenga Bay and Opua and recycling bins had been established in the main street of Kaitaia. The plan was to progressively expand the central bin collection option to other towns across the district.

“We also plan to develop a partnership with the tourism industry to develop strategies to reduce waste generated by visitor industry activities and we intend to investigate and implement a Business & Community Waste Minimisation Fund,” he said.

The Council had also stepped up efforts to identify and prosecute those who continue to illegally dump along our roadsides. With increased facilities available a zero tolerance stand was being taken with fines likely to increase for offenders and detection methods enhanced. The clear warning was, use the expanded facilities and services provided, he said.

From 01 June copies of the new Waste Management and Minimisation Plan will be available from council service centres, libraries and on the council website at www.fndc.govt.nz