Activity Group: Solid Waste Management minimisation plan (WMMP). This document was reviewed and updated in 2014–15 the future direction of the waste disposal levy. Develop an aligned approach to and sets out the strategy for managing and minimising the District’s waste for the invest funding into projects that are targeted, measurable and provide the period from 2015 to 2021. greatest returns. The WMMP sets out a number of options/goals to be worked on over the next Focus 2. Data — Invest in developing a national waste data collection and three year period. The major options/goals are listed in the following table. evaluation framework that targets key information to prioritise waste issues and measures effectiveness of the waste disposal levy. Option Comment Focus 3. Approach — Develop and implement a staged approach to applying the waste disposal levy across additional classes of landfills and assess the 11 Work with the private sector to maximise the throughput and diversion role of a differential rating system. levels at the CIF. 13 Review existing methods of communication with the community. Whilst no increase in the Waste Disposal Levy is signaled at present there is a 15 Continue to work with industry sectors on the development of sustainable possibility that the $10 per tonne rate could increase in the years ahead. In order solutions for forest skid sites, mussel shells and grape marc. to protect the district from legislative increases in disposal costs and our reliance on landfill, the Council has developed and is now operating the waste sorting centre. Waste Levy The Waste Minimisation Act 2008 introduced a waste levy for all disposal sites. Pyrolysis Site The current rate is $10 per tonne for waste sent to the landfill. This charge is paid The district produces a large volume of waste timber each year. Up to 1,500 for by the depositor of the waste who could be a private contractor, business or tonnes is being recovered at the waste sorting centre, with up to 6,500 tonnes the Council on behalf of ratepayers. The collection of this charge is administered received directly at the landfill. by the Ministry for the Environment. The effectiveness of the waste disposal levy is also reviewed by the Ministry every three years. The latest review took place in Pyrolysis is a thermochemical treatment which can be applied to any organic 2017. A concluding statement in the Ministry’s report states: (carbon-based) product. In this treatment, material is exposed to a high temperature, and in the absence of oxygen goes through chemical and physical Systems and processes to administer the waste disposal levy are operating separation into different molecules. efficiently and effectively, and all stakeholders are meeting their obligations relevant to this review as prescribed in the Waste Minimisation Act. However, The establishment of a pyrolysis plant would provide an end outlet for diverted annual levied waste is increasing, indicating that the levy is not currently achieving wood materials, converting them into a charcoal product for onward sale into its objective. Added to this, the majority of New Zealand’s waste disposal facilities suitable markets. are exempt from the levy and no data is available about the waste that is disposed at these facilities. Subject to gaining resource consent, a pyrolysis plant could be established at the Bluegums landfill site. This plant would be operated by a private company, Waste 2017 Review Recommendations Transformation Limited. The company will have to demonstrate that the operation of the plant will not have an adverse effect on the surrounding environment. The following extract from the report summarises the recommendations. Hazardous Waste Centre This review combines recommendations from the previous review to create The current hazardous waste facility has been in operation since the mid-1990s. three clear lines of strategic focus to address these issues in future. To manage the future increases in the volumes of hazardous waste, Council is These are: planning to open a hazardous waste centre. This facility will provide a drop off Focus 1. Strategy — Develop a clear vision, strategy and set of outcomes for point for the community and will allow materials to be processed more efficiently. The facility will be located adjacent to the waste sorting centre and be accessed 2018-2028 Long Term Plan Page 101