New and improved inorganic service

Auckland City's goal of reducing household waste to landfill by 50 per cent has just taken a step closer to becoming reality.

Auckland City Council's Combined Committees have given the green light for a costed business case to be undertaken which could lead to the establishment of a resource recovery park. This would provide the potential for the city to work in partnership with interested sectors of the community.

A resource recovery park is a purpose designed waste facility. The park would act as a centre for the re-manufacturing and redistribution of recyclable and reusable goods. Businesses would share the reuse and the compost recycling facility, which will be located in a central area

"The current inorganic collection is very popular but the time has come to look at new options that will continue focusing Aucklander's attention on the need to increase recycling," says Councillor Bill Christian, chairperson of Auckland City Council's works committee.

Residents would be able to drop off their inorganic waste to a resource recovery park all year round. It is proposed a costed business case be undertaken to determine the affordability and the environmental and social implications of a park. Officers will be looking at best practice examples in New Zealand and overseas to learn from their experiences. They will also be looking at alternative options for community members that were unable to access facilities for large items of bulky waste. "We are at the very early stages of this proposal and a great deal of work still needs to be done to make the resource recovery park a reality," says Mr Christian. The current inorganic collection program being undertaken within Auckland City will not be affected by the council's decision to make a start with the study. Members of the public will have an opportunity to make a submission on the issues discussed by Combined Committees through the draft annual plan consultation process in April and May.

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