Zero Waste: Palmerston North City Council
Location: Manawatu-Wanganui Region, North Island
Population: 76,000
Situated in the lower central North Island, Palmerston North is well known for being adjacent to the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere. With this kind of heritage, sustainability has always been a key issue for the City.
In 2000 the Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) developed a Zero Waste policy and in 2009 adopted a Waste Minimisation Management Plan with a target of diverting 75% of waste from landfill by 2015. This was further supported in 2010 when Council adopted a Sustainable City Strategy which promoted waste minimisation as a key driver of the sustainability programme.
PNCC is very proactive in working towards zero waste. In 2009 a kerbside recycling service was introduced. This service recycles paper, plastics, aluminium and steel via a wheelie bin service and recycles glass though a separate crate service. All of the kerbside recycling materials are taken to a custom built material recovery facility (MRF) which processes the materials and bales them for re-sale. The Council processes approximately 10,000 tonnes of recycling materials annually through the MRF.
The MRF was built in 2009 and forms the focal point of the Material Recovery Park (MRP) which the Council are developing on the closed landfill site. Activities at the MRP include the collection of landfill gas for conversion in to electricity to export to the national grid, a Council operated composting system for processing sewage sludge and household green waste. It is also a location for private enterprise to carry out material recovery such as the recycling of scrap metals.
As public awareness of waste minimisation increases so does the demand for recycling services for items such as tyres, e-waste, paints and waste oil. PNCC is currently in the planning stages of redeveloping the town centre recycling drop off point to become a hub for recycling activities. In early 2012 an agreement was signed to partner with RCN to recycle e-waste (computers/TVs/phones etc).
PNCC also have a programme to increase the number of recycling bins in public parks and reserves in conjunction with LoveNZ.
The Council are continually looking for new ways to minimise the waste that goes to landfill. In 2012 PNCC, in conjunction with private enterprise and Ministry for Environment Waste Minimisation Fund, are carrying out a trial to investigate reduction of sewage sludge volumes through a wet-oxidation programme.
Further information on Palmerston North City Council recycling and waste minimisation activities can be found on the Council web site at http://www.pncc.govt.nz/servicesandfacilities/commonservices/recycling/ or by calling the Council’s Customer Services on 06 3568199.
Updated March 2012