16 August 2018

Media Release

About 62,000 tonnes of waste from Nelson and Tasman ends up in the landfill each year, and the region’s two councils estimate more than half could be re-used, recycled or composted – or avoided in the first place.

Now the Nelson City and Tasman District councils are consulting on a new waste minimisation plan, aiming to get the whole community on board to help avoid and reduce waste in the region.

Consultation on the draft Nelson Tasman Waste Management and Minimisation Plan runs from 17 August to 17 September.

Working party chairman Cr Kit Maling said the draft plan was an update to a previous version developed six years ago.

“The updated plan has a bigger focus on a whole-of-community approach, recognising that everyone has a part to play in waste reduction. It also prioritises waste avoidance, which is about making choices that eliminate the creation of waste in the first place.”

Kit said the councils’ goals were to work with the community to:

• Avoid the creation of waste
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• Improve efficiency of resource use, and
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• Reduce the harmful effects of waste
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“Our community already diverts about 12,000 tonnes of material every year through Council kerbside recycling collections and green waste services – which is a great start. We know we can do even better though. It will take everyone working together to bring real change.

“There are some ideas in the draft plan about how we can achieve our objectives, and we’re really keen to find out what the public think of both the overarching objectives and some of the specific ideas we’re considering. A lot of the initiatives will be developed over time, and the plan is intended to guide our decision-making into the future.

“Now we need to hear from you – are we on the right track with the draft plan? Is there more we could do? And how can individuals play their part?”

People can view copies of the draft plan on the councils’ websites from 17 August – tasman.govt.nz/feedback or nelson.govt.nz/consultations.

Copies are also available at Council offices and libraries.

ENDS

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