Consultation for proposed organic waste service from 16 May to 16 June
Council are consulting with the community on options for a proposed kerbside organic waste collection, between 16 May and 16 June 2022.
The amount of waste being produced in the Rotorua district has grown by 28% over the past 3 years. At the same time, the cost of sending waste to landfill has increased due to central government landfill levies and changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Organic waste makes up over 60% of Rotorua’s household waste, which could be diverted from landfill. The average household in Rotorua puts about 350 kg of organic waste in their red-lid rubbish bins every year, totalling about 10,000 tonnes per year across Rotorua. This food and garden waste has the potential to be processed, to significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases produced from the city’s waste by up to 11,000 tonnes of environment-damaging methane.
Council signalled its intention to introduce kerbside organic waste collection in the Long-term Plan 2021-24, and Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2022-2028, and work is underway to determine how this could work best in Rotorua. Community feedback will be collected over the next month, to inform elected member decision making on a proposed organic waste collection service.
From 16 May, you can view all of the options for a proposed service at rotorualakescouncil.nz/organic waste, and take the survey to have your say.
The service options available for an organic waste service include; no organic waste collection, garden organics only collection, food organics only collection, separate food and garden organics collections, or a mixed food and garden organics collection. Each option has a different diversion rate from landfill and proposed frequency of collection from the kerbside.
Council’s Environmental Health Performance Manager Niki Carling acknowledges that there has been community interest in an organic waste service for a while now, and is excited to share the mahi that has been happening in the waste minimisation space.
“We have the opportunity to take action that will make a real difference. The proposed organic waste service is a big step towards a healthier environment, and meeting Council’s climate goals through reducing the city’s waste footprint. We need the community to tell us what they think about the options we have been considering and how they would work for them.”
There are a number of opportunities for locals to attend a community public talk and speak to Council’s Waste team.
- 18 May, 12:30pm at the Rotorua Library, Haupapa Street
- 31 May, 5:30pm at the Linton Park Community Centre, 16 Kamahi Place
- 7 June, 5:30pm at the Ngongotahā Bowling Club, 11 Domain Avenue
- 8 June, 5:30pm at the Rotorua East Bowling Club, 26 Warwick Drive
There are also webinars available for those who can’t attend a community public talk:
- Monday 30 May 5:30pm – 6:30pm:
Please click this URL to join. https://bit.ly/OrganicWasteWebinar1
Passcode: 524708 - Friday 3 June 12:30pm – 1:30pm:
Please click this URL to join. https://bit.ly/OrganicWasteWebinar2
Passcode: 755100
For more information on the options for a proposed organic waste collection service, visit rotorualakescouncil.nz/organicwaste from 16 May.