Thursday 30 August 2018

Auckland Commits to C40’s Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration

Mayor Phil Goff has pledged Auckland Council’s commitment to the C40 Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration, alongside 22 cities from around the world. The commitment will avoid disposal of 87 million tonnes of waste globally by 2030.

“Cities and countries around the world face significant challenges when it comes to managing waste. Through this declaration, Auckland is signalling its commitment to tackling those challenges, and to protecting its environment in a sustainable way,” said Phil Goff.

By signing C40’s Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration, Auckland has pledged to:

• cut the amount of waste generated by each citizen 15% by 2030;

• reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incineration by 50%; and

• increase the diversion rate to 70% by 2030.

Phil Goff said, “Every year, we send more than 1.6 million tonnes of waste to landfill in Auckland - that's more than a tonne per person. That’s not good enough, and we’re setting our sights higher. Auckland’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP), refreshed in June 2018, sets the goal of Auckland being zero waste by 2040.

“Auckland was acknowledged with the Cities4ZeroWaste Award in 2017 for our success in reducing domestic waste to landfill by 10% and I look forward to accelerating that progress.

“The C40 Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration sets ambitious intermediary goals to reduce waste, reuse and recycle more and will help Auckland and other leading global cities work towards zero-waste goals.

“Given the increasingly important role cities must play in driving climate action, Auckland’s approach to reducing waste should be considered as a model for other cities to accelerate their own efforts.

“Aucklanders have seen the consequences of decades of underinvestment in our environment. This council wants to take these issues out of the too hard basket and take responsibility for addressing them,” said Phil Goff.

The Declaration’s commitments align with The Auckland Plan 2050 ‘Environment and Cultural Heritage Outcome’ – in particular in advocating for Aucklanders to be stewards of the natural environment, and to make sustainable choices.

The Declaration’s commitments will be worked towards within existing budget and staff resources. It will include working with the construction and demolition sector to design out waste, deconstructing rather than demolishing, and investigating food scraps collection for urban Auckland.

ENDS

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