Proposed Waste Management and Minimisation Plan

The Council is consulting on the proposed Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2019. The proposed plan aims to efficiently manage solid waste in Selwyn for the next six years.

This is important, as the number of people living in our district continues to grow, we’re experiencing increasing volumes of all types of waste. This trend is likely to continue as Selwyn grows at double the national rate – which means we’re sending an increasing amount of waste to landfill. It’s the Council’s responsibility to manage our waste and to help protect the natural environment, our home.

Submissions close at 5pm on Friday 7 June, 2019.

Achieving Council's waste management and minimisation aims in a structured way

Clear improvements have been made in the diversion of kerbside recyclables and organics from landfill. We’ve increased diversion rates, mostly as a result Council supplying 240 litre recycling wheelie bins to households, as well as the strong uptake of the organics bin service.

The Waste Management Plan covers all activities and facilities relating to solid waste in the district, including diverted material and hazardous waste. The Council will not necessarily have direct involvement with all activities and facilities, however the Waste Minimisation Act gives the Council the responsibility to consider those other than its own.

Key issues (and opportunities) identified are:

• Significant growth in population, and the associated increase in volumes of all waste streams which are projected to continue for the foreseeable future.

• Growing volumes of commercial and construction waste in the district.

• Significant quantities of divertible material, particularly organics still within many household residual waste bins.

• Improving access to services for those properties that are further away from Pines Resource Recovery Park and/or not on collection routes.

• Improving the district’s performance in the upper tiers of the waste hierarchy.

• Legislative changes in China affecting the ability to export recyclables, forcing a re-think about recycle processing on a global scale.

The key actions proposed in the WMMP are to:

• Reduce waste by focusing on the upper tiers of the Waste Hierarchy.

• Promote the kerbside organics service in areas where it is available.

• Establish a reuse shop and salvage yard.

• Increase education around waste reduction and develop a more comprehensive strategy for education, including the creation of an education facility at the Recovery Park.

• Trial farm waste days – improving waste and recycling options for farmers

• Embrace emerging alternative waste technologies and initiatives.

• Facilitate increased community engagement and ownership of waste generated.

• Improve access to existing services.

• Assess closed landfills and work to ensure compliance with consent conditions;

• Work with other Councils, Central Government and Industry to address New Zealand recycling issues.

• Review the Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw to ensure it is still effective and appropriate.

Considerable opportunities still exist to make progress on minimising waste in the district over the coming years.

You can complete the submission form at the bottom of this page. Hardcopy forms are available on this page, or at any Council Service Centre.

Hardcopy feedback forms can be posted to:

Freepost 104 653
Proposed Waste Minimisation Plan Survey Selwyn District Council
PO Box 90
Rolleston 7643.

Submission forms or any other comments can be sent to solid.waste@selwyn.govt.nz.