Gisborne District Council

Location: East Coast, North Island
Population: 46,600

Situated on the beautiful East Coast of New Zealand's North Island, Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the dawn of each new day. The region's fertile soils and temperate climate boast a wide range of horticultural crops and the success of viticulture in the district ensures Gisborne's fame as the Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand.

In October 1999 Gisborne District Council officially adopted a Zero Waste policy. Gisborne had already begun to introduce many successful waste reduction initiatives.

In July 1999 Gisborne District Council installed a weighbridge at the landfill and began charging $60/tonne for refuse disposal. At the same time, the number of bags each household could dispose of in the weekly refuse collection was reduced from six bags to three. There were six recycling depots throughout the city.

To help residents reduce waste, the Council created a diversion area at the landfill for greenwaste collection. The greenwaste was then utilised at the landfill or transferred to the newly established, privately operated, composting plant. By September 2000 landfill charges had risen to $90/tonne and a refuse bags sticker system was introduced with residents given one sticker equating to 5kg of rubbish a week, additional stickers could be purchased. This was complimented with a a kerbside collection for paper, cardboard, glass, cans and plastic packaging and bottles.

A diverse advertising and education programme has been undertaken alongside these changes. A survey of 2000 residents, prior to the introduction, showed that 92% wanted a kerbside recycling scheme and the majority of people agreed that this would enable them to reduce their refuse to one bag per week.

So far the local residents are pleased with the changes and the waste reduction statistics are positive. One third of what was domestic rubbish has now been transferred to the recycling collection. But the effects are more widespread. Businesses are changing their practices and waste to landfill has decreased significantly. Local businesses now compost, crush concrete, and collect organic waste for vermicomposting.  The landfill at Paokahu closed at the end of 2002 and residual waste is now transported out of the district. 

AllBrites opened a Resource Recovery Centre in Gisborne in July 2003, and have recently added a 'Rethink Environmental Education Centre' in partnership with the Gisborne District Council.  The Centre is a council initiative jointly funded by the Zero Waste New Zealand Trust.  

The Rethink Centre has three rooms, two of which will be open to the public during the recovery centre's opening hours.  The first room takes people through a zero waste journey and the second room, into a landfill experience.  The third room is full of interactive displays, including a shop offering environmental choices, that will be open to school and community groups under supervision.  The aim of the centre is to help the community explore waste issues and the zero waste philosophy, and to challenge individuals to rethink how they deal with waste.    

Waste reduction figures

In 1998-99, 40,000 tonnes of refuse was disposed of to landfill.
In 1999-2000 this reduced to 29,000 tonnes and in 2000-01 18,500 tonnes went to landfill.
Landfill charges are currently $135/ tonne.

For more information contact Anne Lister at anne@gdc.govt.nz or call 06 867 2049.