Join us in shaping Palmerston North's plan for reducing waste
Published on 15 April 2024
We're inviting all residents to share their thoughts on our draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, which maps out how we'll cut down on waste to landfill over the next six years.
From starting a city-wide food scraps collection to upgrading the machinery at our recycling plant, we've got some big projects in the works.
Councillor Brent Barrett, Chair of the Sustainability Committee, stresses how crucial community input is for this plan.
"Did you know that nearly half of the stuff we've been throwing in the rubbish could actually be recycled, reused or composted? Our household waste is at record highs and we need everyone's help to make sure our plan boosts resource recovery."
Our plan sets the stage for some major changes:
- By 2028, we're aiming to collect food scraps from everyone in the city, possibly including garden waste too. This move could significantly reduce the amount of waste we bury in landfills.
- We're also going to review our kerbside collection services. Right now, we're the only council in New Zealand directly providing waste collection services. Let's find out if there's a smarter and more effective way to do it.
Other actions in the plan relate to things we are already doing, like using education to promote waste reduction, operating the Awapuni Resource Recovery Centre, and supporting local community initiatives like the Repair Café and community clean-up events.
Group Manager of Resource Recovery, Bryce Hosking, says we're aligning this plan with our draft Long-Term Plan, which is also up for discussion.
“We're making sure this plan matches up with our draft Long-Term Plan so that our big picture goals and budgeting stay on the same page.”
Want to know more? Jump online or come chat with us at one of our upcoming events:
- Community Drop-In Session at the Central Library – Thursday 18th April, 4pm to 6pm
- Planning Palmy Expo at the Conference and Function Centre – Saturday 20th April, 10am to 1pm
Read more about the consultation and share your thoughts