Wide cross-section of Ruapehu voices wanted on draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan

Ruapehu District Council is hoping that a wide cross-section of Ruapehu communities will have their say on the draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) that is open for public feedback until Tuesday 29 May.

Council Waste Minimisation Officer Daniel Allen said that the draft Plan reflects a significant change in direction for the management and minimisation of our solid waste which will impact on every household and business in Ruapehu.

“Like the rest of NZ we have some big challenges ahead in protecting and improving our environment and meeting our national environmental obligations,” said Mr Allen.

“While this change in direction has largely been prompted by the imminent closure of the Taumarunui landfill, following the expiry of the current consent in 2020, it is apparent that how we have been dealing with our waste up until now is no longer acceptable.

The underlying vision driving the draft WMMP is all about minimising the amount of waste going to landfill.

We know from our waste audits that nearly 70% of kerbside rubbish collected from Ruapehu households could have been recycled or composted instead of being sent to landfill.

The recent Long Term Plan (LTP) 2018-28 consultation proposed retaining all clean-fill within the district but transporting all other waste to a suitable facility outside the district for processing.

While Council’s proposed solution received the majority of support from submitters it came with the significant proviso about the need to reduce what we throw out notably food waste and other biodegradables.

Minimising what we all collectively throw out is the key to protecting our environment, our way of life, and keeping solid waste services affordable and sustainable.

If the WMMP is going be successful we need households and businesses to be in full support of it and prepared to make changes to their behaviour with a much bigger commitment to reducing, reusing, recycling and composting.

For many people this will require a change to their current behaviour however we don’t believe this needs to be difficult or time-consuming with a little organisation and understanding.

Even if people responded to the LTP question on solid waste we would encourage you to have a read of the draft WMMP.

To get a copy please see our website ruapehudc.govt.nz or drop by your local Council office.”

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