9 June 2005

Chch City Council finalises solid waste management agreements

Christchurch City Council, the Recovered Materials Foundation Canterbury Ltd (RMFC) and Canterbury Waste Services (CWS) have agreed to a group of arrangements for the future management of the city's solid waste and, in particular, the way its refuse stations will be operated.

Jane Parfitt, the Council's City Environment General Manager, says the new arrangements will begin from 1 July and are a fundamental part of the city's drive to ensure the maximum amount of potentially useful material is being sorted from the waste stream for reuse and recycling, an important part of the Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plan.

The timing allows for the phased opening of the new landfill at Kate Valley, which is under way, and the closing of the landfill at Burwood.

Following a public call for proposals "to meet a range of Council solid waste services and objectives", the Council in December 2004 decided to advance a scheme from the RMF. The nine contracts which have resulted are the product of work done since August 2003 by staff of the various organisations and expert consultants.

Under RMF management, the Council's refuse stations at Parkhouse Road, Metro Place and Styx Mill Road will become "resource recovery parks", Mrs Parfitt says. "The emphasis will be increasingly upon recycling and reuse of the incoming materials rather than disposal to landfill."

In addition CWS is constructing a waste facility at Parkhouse Road to service commercial customers. This will be operational towards the end of 2005. Richard Lloyd, Managing Director of the RMFC, says, "In the current economic climate the level of waste being generated is higher than ever. There has never been a more appropriate time to focus on genuine and sustainable waste minimisation. The RMF is looking forward to introducing new and innovative ways of diverting material from the waste stream for the benefit of the whole community."

Included in the change is an arrangement with City Care Ltd to compensate it for the early termination of a contract. The agreement with this Council-controlled trading organisation will have no effect on rates, Mrs Parfitt says.

Canterbury Waste Services is the private sector partner in the Canterbury Regional Landfill project. It developed and manages the new environmentally secure landfill for Transwaste Canterbury, of which it is a half owner. Transwaste's other 50 per cent is owned by the Christchurch City Council and the district councils of Ashburton, Banks Peninsula, Hurunui, Selwyn and Waimakariri.

Christchurch City Council's Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plan is on the web, at www.ccc.govt.nz/Waste/ManagementPlan/

ENDS

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