Aligning with national goals

Every council in New Zealand is required to have a Waste Management and Minimisation Plan. These plans help councils reduce waste, manage rubbish and recycling services, and support national waste reduction goals.

A key focus of our draft Plan is to make better use of materials, reducing what goes to landfill, and encouraging more reuse, recycling and composting wherever possible.

Circular economy approach

New Zealand has traditionally followed a linear economy, where resources are taken, used, and then disposed of, often ending up in landfill.

Globally there is a shift towards a different approach, known as the 'circular economy'. This approach focuses on managing waste materials in a circular system as much as possible, with landfill being the last resort. This approach is reflected in our Waste Management and Minimisation Plan.

If you want to learn more about where our waste is coming from, you can read Council's latest Waste Assessment.