Joint Regional Waste Plan Released by Councils
Tuesday 1 May 2012, 1:30PM
202 views
The region’s joint waste management and minimisation plan (JWMMP) has been given the go-ahead by both Tasman District and Nelson City Councils.
Introducing the Plan, Chair of the Joint Working Party Tasman Councillor Judene Edgar said, we are becoming increasingly aware of the harm our waste can do to the environment, if not well managed.
“Nelson City and Tasman District Councils have a responsibility to look after current and future generations by minimising our impact upon the environment. We cannot, however, do this alone.”
An assessment of the region’s waste management current and future demands were presented to both Councils in 2010 along with a number of proposals to meet those demands. In response a working party comprising of Councillors and staff from both Councils as well as representatives of the District Health Board was set up to guide the development of what was to become the JWMMP.
With a vision of ‘Valuing Resources and Eliminating Waste’ the plan has identified a number of goals, a waste hierarchy, guiding principles, objectives, policies and methods.
Nelson City Councillor Mike Ward said the working party worked “exceptionally well together”.
“This whole process has been a pleasure to be part of. Everyone worked really well towards the end goal, which ultimately puts a plan in place for driving behaviour change in waste minimisation and waste management across the region.”
Councillor Edgar said, “We are heading in the direction of our goals - avoiding the creation of waste, promoting efficient resource use, and minimising harm from waste. These three goals reflect that as a community, we need to work together, take individual and collective responsibility, and make changes to our behaviour.
“This joint plan builds on the Joint Waste Assessment undertaken in 2010 and is a key starting point for what we expect to be an enduring commitment by our councils and community.
“The working party received a number of submissions to the draft released earlier and we look forward to furthering the relationship with the community in the delivery of the plan,” concluded Councillor Edgar.