District on track to halving waste to landfills

A 50 percent reduction in waste volumes that went to landfills three years ago is achievable by the end of 2013, the Far North District Council says.

People in the district disposed of about 410 kg of rubbish each in 2007/08.

That figure had dropped to about 302 kg at the end of the last financial year, thanks to people producing less waste and recycling more.

Council infrastructure and asset manager David Penny is confident the district can further reduce waste going to landfill to 200 kg per person in two years.

Mr Penny praises the district for surpassing the council’s intermediate waste reduction goal of 320 kg per person by coming in at 302 kg in June.

The challenge now is to reduce waste to landfill to 260 kg per person by the end of June next year, he says.

“This will require a greater level of recycling and recovery in line with our zero waste vision and waste nothing of value or use philosophy.”

The council is keen to help the district increase the volume of waste it diverts from landfill to recycling from the current 130 kg per person to up to 200 kg.

It plans to increase the number of recycling centres around the district and recently established a recycling drop-off point at Broadwood.

“That community is now recycling more of its waste because recycling facilities are more accessible.”

He asks communities to make use of kerbside recycling schemes and refuse transfer stations which recycle 62 percent of the waste they receive.

“We ask people to make every effort to recycle glass bottles and jars because about 30 percent is ending up in landfills.

“Remember, drinking glasses, window glass and heat-treated (Pyrex) glass are not recyclable.”

The council is also investigating the feasibility of recovering wood waste for energy or fuel generation.

“We’re starting to look at waste as an opportunity to create jobs, make money for the district and reduce our dependency on the dwindling supply of fossil fuels.”