Zero Waste: Buller District Council
Location: West Coast, South Island
Population: 11,000
Situated in the beautiful Northern West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, the region covers an area of 8574 sq. kilometres, which with its vast expanse, is not highly populated with only 11,000 residents. Consequently it is largely an area of unspoiled natural beauty and features.
The temperate climate and moderate rainfall produces some of the fastest growing natural bush in the country, and this is being increasingly recognised by the horticultural industry as a previously unrecognised quality horticultural location.
In April 2000 Buller District Council officially adopted a Zero Waste Policy.
Prior to becoming a Zero Waste Council, Buller joined the other three Councils on the West Coast in establishing the West Coast Regional Waste Working Group. This group comprises Councillors and staff from the four Councils, a schools representative and involvement from local iwi and the Department of Conservation. The focus of the group is to ensure all solid waste (including hazardous waste) initiatives are co-ordinated, and co-operation in the areas of education and waste minimisation is achieved.
Following on from the Solid Waste Strategy and some preliminary consultation, a draft Solid Waste Management Plan has been developed and was adopted by Council on 7 November 2000.
Short term resource consents have been granted for all Council's existing dump sites. A rationalisation of these sites and a revised waste management system is anticipated to cost more than double what the present system costs. There is therefore a big incentive to reduce waste quantities.
The Buller District Council participated in the Ministry for the Environment's pilot study on Life Cycle Assessment using the WIZARD programme and the results will be useful in making a decision on our future waste direction as it will be able to be based on triple bottom line accounting.
Buller currently produces approximately 10,000 tonnes of waste per annum. Little information is known about the waste composition, however, it is expected that organic waste comprises at least 50%. Efforts will therefore be made to focus on this area. The provision of compost will certainly compliment any developing horticultural industry.
Buller recognises it is a new player in the Zero Waste area and it is therefore keen to learn and develop successful initiatives employed elsewhere by Councils with more experience.
A pilot recycling project was carried out in Karamea using Task Force Green Staff. This followed extensive community consultation and a research project by a masters student from Lincoln University. Changes to the landfill operation were made after advice was sought from Zero Waste consultants.
In July 2002, the council adopted the NZ Waste Strategy with some minor modifications.
For further information contact Gary Murphy, Operations Manager, 03 789 7239.