30 November 2020
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: District waste targets
Enquiry
I'm working on a story coming out of the 2020 Annual Report, comparing waste reduction / collection data from Annual Reports back to 2016.
In the 2020 AR, it states the council has not met its target for household general waste reduction and green waste collection. Recycling dipped slightly, narrowly missing the target, but prior to 2020 was on a trend of increase. (Page 70 for your reference).
Could I please have an attributable comment on:
- Why is the council failing to meet its household general waste reduction targets? (I note it's never achieved them since measurement began in 2017).
- Why was recycling meeting its targets?
- Why did recycling narrowly miss its targets in 2020? Is that expected to pick back up in 2021 and continue to increase?
- How might the numbers for recycling, green waste and household waste relate to one another? (i.e. what I'm driving at here is how the pause on recycling might have affected general waste collection, and how green waste might affect general waste collection... etc)
- Why are the household general waste targets continually dropping over time, even though the council is not achieving them?
- What is the council actively doing to meet these targets in 2021?
Response
From Infrastructure General Manager Stavros Michael:
Why is the council failing to meet its household general waste reduction targets? (I note it's never achieved them since measurement began in 2017).
These targets are part of our long term waste strategy 2016-22 and beyond. The set waste reduction targets indicate our long term goals and are linked to other possible actions signalled in the strategy, which identified a number of actions/strategies to achieve the long term goals, including diversion of nearly 50% of Rotorua's municipal waste.
We are currently working on a proposal for organic waste diversion for consideration for the next Long-term Plan (2021-31), which would help us lower our waste footprint from 532 to <320 tonnes of waste per household per year.
For the 2019/20 financial year our targets were further impacted by the disposal of some 500+ tonnes of recyclables due to recycling facilities being closed down during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Why was recycling meeting its targets?
Our recycling targets were based on SWAP (Solid Waste Analysis Protocol) audit (conducted every three years) and are realistic estimates of the amount of recycling in our waste stream. The provision of a relatively bigger recycling bin, systematic recycling campaigns by Council and general awareness in the community on recycling and sustainability have all contributed to meeting recycling targets.
Why did recycling narrowly miss its targets in 2020? Is that expected to pick back up in 2021 and continue to increase?
We collected >1250 tonnes of recycling in Quarters 1, 2 and 3 of the 2019/20 financial year. However, recycling collection in Q4 dropped significantly and diverted to waste, due to recycling suspension during COVID-19 lockdown. As recycling was not considered an essential service, the sorting facilities were closed (at Government's direction) to prevent spread of COVID-19 and we were forced to dispose of mixed recycling at landfill.
How might the numbers for recycling, green waste and household waste relate to one another? (i.e. what I'm driving at here is how the pause on recycling might have affected general waste collection, and how green waste might affect general waste collection... etc)
As noted above, when recycling was suspended during the lockdown, recyclables ended up in landfill. The community was advised. This contributed about 500+ tonnes to our waste to landfill. During this period, a large number of residents filled their yellow bins with green waste, which also contributed significantly to overall waste volumes to landfill.
Generally, about 30% of rubbish collection in Rotorua (in red bins) comprises of green waste. Diverting green waste away from landfills would substantially reduce our waste to disposal tonnages.
Why are the household general waste targets continually dropping over time, even though the council is not achieving them?
Our waste to disposal were set against the waste strategy 2016-22 which anticipated the introduction of additional diversion options. Some of these have yet to occur and population as well as our visitor growth in recent years contributed to additional waste generation. Our general waste targets were set during development of the 2018/28 Long-term Plan and have remained unchanged since. These will be reviewed next year and will be subject to agreement on other diversion options to be considered by Council.
What is the council actively doing to meet these targets in 2021?
We are currently planning and discussing organic waste diversion in Rotorua for potential inclusion in the next Long-term Plan (2021-31). If approved, this would have the potential to reduce our waste collection by 40-50% (<320 tonnes of waste per household per year) and increase green waste collection by 3000 tonnes/year.
Reporter was also provided with the following link to the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan - 2016-2022 Waste Strategy HERE
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Notice of requirement for land designation
Enquiry
I noticed in the classifieds section of the Rotorua Daily Post the Ministry of Education has applied to the council for a Notice of Requirement to "designate land for education purposes at 116 SH30 Tikitere" and to move Te Wharekura o Ngati Rongomai to that site pending public feedback.
I was hoping to be supplied a copy of the application please. I see the classified ad says the full application can be viewed on the council website but I can't find it when I search "Notice of Requirement" "Te Wharekura o Ngati Rongomai" "Ministry of education" or in the "Let's Talk" section.
Response
Here's the link on our website where you'll find the documents relating to this: