Palmerston North City Council

Location: Manawatu-Wanganui Region, North Island
Population: 76,000

Situated in the lower central North Island of New Zealand and noted for the largest windfarm in the Southern Hemisphere, Palmerston North is only 145 kilometres north of the nation's capital.

Known widely as the "Knowledge City", it houses a considerable line-up of research and teaching institutions including world renowned Massey University, the nation's biggest University.

In 2000, Palmerston North City Council officially adopted a Zero Waste policy. For nearly ten years prior to this, the city had been creating a range of strategies to ensure waste reduction.

Initially, in the early nineties, the then 45 year old landfill was given a major clean-up, charges were introduced (and thereafter increased at regular intervals) and a weigh-bridge, gatehouse and high level closed circuit TV system installed. Two small peri-urban landfills were closed permanently.

Two six-day-a-week, fully staffed, free entry recycling centres were also established at this time. These were set to take paper, card, metal, plastic, glass, whole bottles, oil, horticultural containers, cloth, clothing, hazardous wastes (including 'sharps'), printer cartridges, spectacles, drums, crates, pallets, sacks, tyres and postage stamps.

A green waste depot with a large hammer mill grinder was established soon after, operating on a minimal fee basis. Every New Year, a Xmas tree kerbside recycling programme operates for one week.

A special effort has been made to target organic waste reduction including backyard methods. This is being achieved by extensive composting education and the promotion of up to date composting technology.

In recent years, two new types of aerobic composters have been produced in the city and considerable Palmerston North City Council input was given to the development of the Auckland based 'Earthmaker' continuous cycle composter in relation to its potential for people with aged and disability constraints.

The City also supported the development of the "Worm Around" bin - a vermicomposting bin designed and made in Palmerston North. Council funded one bin to each of the city's 72 educational institutions. This scheme has been taken up by neighbouring district councils.

These worm bins have enjoyed great success with older people with disabilities. To this end, Council is working with a university design student in Wellington. Late last year, the manufacturer of the 'Worm Around' bin imported the country's first 'Vermi Converter' from Australia. These industrial volume worm composters could become a key part of the food waste strategy.

Palmerston North City is very fortunate in having a University with an outstanding Institute of Technology and Engineering. Council has developed an excellent working relationship and share in the belief that the future of 'waste' reduction lies within product development.

It is hoped to set up a sustainable technology park at the University in the near future. Among other things, this would house a compost demonstration garden.

In 1995, the city moved to embrace 'Easy Street', a weekly kerbside recycling system. This rapidly became very popular, despite the continuing outstanding popularity of the very social recycling centres.

Between 1996 and 1998, in association with Massey's Institute of Technology and Engineering, the KREMS (Kerbside Recycling Easy Movement System) project produced a prototype vehicle designed to the needs of the city's increasing aged population and 18% disabilities population. Council is now looking at a pilot project outside the city.

In 1996, the city assisted the Community Arts Council to establish the Arts Recycling Centre. This grew rapidly to become a popular materials resource centre. It sources a vast range of materials from local industries.

In 1993, what was to become the Green Bikes Trust, began its monumental journey to maturity. Today it is a model of healthy transport, alternative employment and resource re-use and repair. The Trust now exports both bikes and bike racks overseas.

The City is again very fortunate in having a university with a College of Education (Teachers' College) for this affords splendid opportunities to input into the areas of environmental and technology education for large numbers of intending and practising teachers.

Massey University has its own Zero Waste programme now underway with which the City has had considerable contact. It has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Zero Waste Trust and Council to develop the Zero Waste Academy based at Massey University.

The City is also working with the NZ Army and the Manawatu Prison at Linton (within the City) towards Zero Waste. This is an outstanding opportunity for innovative product development and associated education for prison clients. The organic stream could feed the prison's vegetable gardens and hopefully, bring them organic certification.

In early 2001, the Council's business unit 'City Enterprises' took over city recycling on kerb and in the centers in association with Allbrites of Napier. Palmerston North is currently diverting about 10,000 tonnes annually.

2003 saw the official opening of the I.H.C. Putrescibles Composter at Aokautere on the edge of the city (funded by the Zero Waste Trust)

2003 also saw the beginning of the advanced planning stages for the Waste Plaza under the brand Knowaste-----innovation in the waste stream.

2006. Have now opened Council's cogeneration plant at the Awapuni Landfill. It captures methane gas and burns it to produce electricity, as well as a large volume of low-grade heat, which Council is considering using for such facilities as swimming pools and glasshouses. The electricity produced is equivalent to that required to run 600 homes, and the plant should have a lifespan of about 25 years.

For further information contact Alan Fielding, Zero Waste Strategy Leader at alan.fielding@pncc.govt.nz  or call 06 356 8199.