Reduce waste to landfill - that's the vision from Tauranga City Council, as they call for public feedback on proposed changes to the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan - WMMP.
A 2021 assessment showed the rollout of the kerbside service has reduced the total amount of waste being sent to landfill, but there's still a lot of work to do as Tauranga produces more waste per capita than the national average.
"Tauranga has seen rapid growth since the WMMP was last updated in 2016, and now it's time to make sure we're still on track," says a Tauranga City Council spokesperson.
Proposed changes to the WMMP reflect the nine key waste issues facing Tauranga, like the high volume of construction and demolition material going to landfill, and access to waste management services for the growing number of people living in multi-unit dwellings.
Waste management and minimisation has changed dramatically since 2016, so alongside the WMMP Council is also reviewing the Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw to ensure both are in alignment.
.jpg)
Practically, this means introducing changes to meet our targets - like a requirement for building consents to have an accompanied construction and demolition site waste management plan. For multi-unit developments to have waste management plans and minimum requirements for waste bin storage areas, and updating the rules for managing waste at events and large public gatherings.
Council's Sustainability and Waste Manager Sam Fellows says Waste management is a complex and critical service that comes with high community expectations.
'Successful delivery of the service requires everyone, including the council, waste operators, businesses, and the general public - whether residents or visitors, to play their part," says Sam.
'The new draft plan and bylaw really complement each other, working together to give us the tools to manage our city's commercial and household waste to 2028.”
'We will strive to maintain and improve on the success we have seen with our new kerbside service, and accompanying that will be a new focus on reducing construction and demolition waste," says Sam.
To find out more about the draft plan and bylaw, and to provide feedback, please visit the webpages below. Consultation closes at 5pm on Thursday July 7.
Waste Minimisation Plan 2022-2028 visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/wmmp
Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2022 www.tauranga.govt.nz/waste-bylaw
2 comments
Transfer station
Posted on 13-06-2022 18:56 | By Kancho
Closing the south city transfer station without any option means more goes into the bin for landfill as a twenty km trip isn't an option. Also so little recycling facilities for lots of thing appliances, electronics batteries etc. All go to landfill. There is more precious metals in a tonne of electronics than there is in a tonne ore in mining. Batteries also containing lithium, cadmium lead etc all waste and probably toxic in landfill. More plastics not included in recycling either, timber , metal etc too. Fairly pathetic as it all goes into the bin to landfill
@Kancho
Posted on 14-06-2022 12:27 | By morepork
I agree wholeheartedly. Removing the Maleme Street Transfer station from public access, without providing a similar service in the same neighbourhood, was short-sighted and regrettable. If it was on the point of collapse, why weren't studies done to determine the cost of bringing it up to scratch? If it was non-viable, an alternate site (or sites) needed to be found. A single site, 20 KM away, is a very poor option and it is no wonder there is a problem with landfill. Nobody wants a rubbish tip near their property, but maybe a series of smaller, less intrusive, facilities could be considered.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.