Tomorrow marks the start of the ‘Super Local’ Local Government New Zealand conference in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington. We wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate the Zero Waste Network local government members who are doing awesome work towards making Aotearoa waste-free. Local government has an incredibly important role as they are on the coldface of waste collection everyday in our communities. Local government is responsible for preparing a waste management and minimisation plan every six years – this sets the goals and aspirations of the community for getting rid of waste.
Auckland Council (and of course, all the amazing people of the Auckland region) are on a mission to make Tāmaki Makaurau zero waste by 2040. Auckland Council is funding and establishing a network of community recycling centres which divert material from landfill instead of standard “transfer stations.” This re-using of items and re-purposing of materials also benefits the local community through affordable items and job creation. Council has a plan for 20 centres across the district to contribute to the goal of zero waste Auckland by 2040.
Whaingāroa/Raglan’s Xtreme Zero Waste has been contracted since 2000 by Waikato District Council to operate the Raglan Resource Recovery Centre. Their main objective here is to increase the ability of the community to REUSE. Meanwhile, zero waste heroes Wānaka Wastebusters’ Slow Fashion Month is supported by Queenstown Lakes District Council Zero Waste District Programme.
Our local government members include: Auckland Council, Gisborne District Council, Kaikoura District Council, Marlborough District Council, Nelson City Council, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Ruapehu District Council, Selwyn District Council, South Wairarapa District Council. Tasman District Council, Tauranga City Council, Timaru District Council, Upper Hutt City Council, Waikato District Council, Waikato Regional Council, Waipā District Council, Wellington City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
We also appreciate the work of LGNZ in advocating for increases to the waste levy and for a container return scheme. The levy is key to funding waste reduction projects and programmes and driving change. Local government desperately needs to be supported by Central government with waste regulations that stop waste creation at the source and best practice product stewardship schemes. Local government is severely constrained in being able to stop the production and importation of materials that are destined for landfill. This isn’t fair – communities should have the ability to regulate what comes in and out of their communities, and stop the filling up of their landfills. The levy alone cannot do that as the price is just passed along to the consumer. Mandatory product stewardship (like a container return scheme) could be a game changer for large waste streams like construction and demolition waste and plastics with the right settings.
If you are working on Council or in waste minimisation in local government you can check out our five priorities for local government here
If you are involved in Local Government, and not already a member, consider joining!
Local government membership form: