Trial to help shape future of food waste collection

North Shore households will be the first to experience the future when a trial of the region’s planned new organics collection service starts next month.

Nearly 2000 households, largely reflecting Auckland’s demographics, have been chosen from parts of Northcote, Forrest Hill, Milford and Takapuna to evaluate the service for three months, starting 21 May.

Participants will be asked to separate their food scraps and other organic matter such as paper towels, tea bags and indoor cut flowers from their usual rubbish collection so it can be collected weekly and turned into compost.

A new rates-funded, urban organics collection service was one of a suite of projects promised in Auckland Council’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan of 2012.

Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee chair Wayne Walker says learnings from the trial will help the council to design the best possible service when it rolls out, while delivering value for ratepayers and positive environmental outcomes.

“About 40 per cent of what the average household puts out in their rubbish each week is food waste, which currently goes to landfill and rots into the unwanted greenhouse gas we know as methane,” he says.

“As part of the new service a process will be in place to turn that same food waste into a resource, such as energy, or compost to nourish the soil.
“This service is a key mechanism to help us lower harmful emissions, reduce our overall waste and use our landfills more efficiently. It is also a way we can all contribute to our aspiration to be the world’s most livable city.

“I hope all participants embrace this trial as it paves the way for a new service and a way to deal more efficiently with our waste.”

The trial will provide information about participation rates and feedback on service design. It will also measure how people behave when separating out food waste from normal rubbish in their kitchens.

Trial participants will receive a notice from this week, followed up by a door knocking programme, and delivery of a new organics bin and supporting collateral from early May.

To find out if your household is part of the trial, call us on 09 301 0101.

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