Ruapehu District Council

Location: Ruapehu District, Central North Island
Population: 14,295

The Ruapehu District incorporates the majority of the Tongariro and Whanganui National Parks. The Tongariro National Park has a World Heritage status and accommodates New Zealand's largest commercial ski fields. The northern reaches of the Whanganui River also provide a well utilised recreation resource during the summer season. Surrounding this alpine environment are a number of rural towns that service the backbone industries of the District's economy, including farming, forestry, horticulture and tourism.

There are seven Rural Transfer Stations supported by the Waimarino Resource Recovery Centre in Ohakune, along with a recyclables processing yard and a District Transfer Station/ Landfill in Taumarunui. The landfill has obtained a resource consent until 2020. In 2002 it was estimated that if the current rate of fill continued the landfill would be closed around 2013. However Council previously adopted a Zero Waste approach. This culminated in the adoption of a new Solid Waste Management Plan in March 2003 after a long consultation round. The adopted Strategy is based on a Zero Waste philosophy.

The implementation of Zero Waste initiatives has continued. The are now a number of waste minimisation projects that will result in extending the landfill life.

However there are a number of waste minimisation projects taking effect that are likely to extend the landfill life.

Currently the two main transfer stations are staffed. However it is planned to control a further two transfer stations in August 2003. This provides control on an estimated 90% of the incoming general waste stream.

On attended sites Recycling facilities are provided free of charge. Most sites accept cardboard, paper, three types of plastic, aluminium and tin cans, glass, steel, re-useable timber and separated greenwaste. There is a charge of $10 per m3 loose general refuse for householders and $20 per m3 loose for businesses. This provides an economic incentive to put some effort into waste minimisation.

The Ruapehu District Council adopted a recycling concept from the Far North District Council, based on a network of recycling containers on refuse transfer station sites. The recycling containers are refurbished sea containers with slots in the side for the various recyclables This is operated in combination with bottle banks. In addition Council is providing specific township recycling facilities in Raetihi , and will shortly provide this in Taumarunui and Ohakune.

The Waimarino Resource Recovery Centre is a new facility and became operational on July 1st 2002. The opening of the new centre has raised the profile and waste minimisation education and promotion has increased significantly. As a result recycling has increased. The recycling rate at July 1st 2002 is estimated to be around 10 to 15% of the total waste stream volume.

This year, Council also began to collect hazardous chemicals. This service is also free, to encourage managed disposal. Council is involved in the retail of One Stop Refuse and Recycling Containers. At this stage Council sells the bins at cost price. Council also operated a swap-a-fadge (wool bales) system for businesses that produce quantities of cardboard or paper. This has been popular. A local engineering shop is making up cheap frames to hold the fadges. Council also recently began the re-sale of disposed goods. The recycling effort will be extended this year with further installation of recycling containers and bottle banks at strategic places in the District's three major townships of Taumarunui, Ohakune and Raetihi. In addition it is planned to work with local schools and to supply them with a waste minimisation starter kit.

An education project was trialled in 3 primary schools in June 2003 and was a great success. This service is contracted to the Environmental Education and Resource Sustainability Trust (EERST) from Tauranga. The service will be extended to all primary schools in the District in the 2003/04 financial year.

In addition a promotional campaign was started with regular newspaper advertising.