Waste reduction and minimisation enhance sustainability, climate adaptation, and emissions reduction. The Council's Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) outlines strategies for managing district waste, emphasizing partnerships with the community, businesses and industry.

In the strategy we highlight the links between sustainability and waste management. Reducing landfill waste lowers costs and extends current infrastructure life, while composting organic waste reduces methane emissions and enhances soil carbon sequestration, which is the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide.

Currently our residual waste is sent to Kate Valley landfill, that operates to the highest international standards and generates electricity from methane. The new food organic/garden organic collection service will start in September 2026.

For more information on waste reduction and minimisation, see page 15 in the draft strategy.

4.1 Implement methods to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill or other disposal

• A. Implement the food organic/ garden organic (FOGO)kerbside collection service and extend the service to businesses on a user-pays basis (Waste Management & Minimisation Plan, p 12)
• B. Work with Council’s contractors and other providers to encourage uptake of green waste collections (WMMP, p 11)
• C. Implement the Solid Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw (WMMP, p 11)
• D. Continue to work regionally and lobby central Government
• E. Continue to seek ongoing improvements that reduce waste to landfill across all facets of waste management.
• F. Continue to reduce waste to landfill from all council activities (e.g. Office waste).
• G. Investigate the economic feasibility of a local composting operation for food organics/garden organic and other compostable materials.

4.2 Lower waste management costs and increase economic benefits to ensure financial sustainability

• A. Collect data through regular surveys and weighbridges. Continue recording and analysis to enable public reporting and performance monitoring over time. (WMMP, p 12)
• B. Use data collection, analysis and research to ensure Council and the community know where District waste is going. (Based on WMMP, p. 11)
• C. Revise rates and charges for waste management services on an ongoing basis, having regard to user-pays principles. (based on WMMP, p12)

4.3 Reduce the risk of environmental damage and protect public health through sustainable waste management

• A. Improve processes to consider the environmental impact of all reuse, recycling and recovery options and seek to choose options with the least overall environmental impact.(Based on WMMP objective 8, p5)
• B. Improve processes to consider the public health impacts of all waste management options and seek to choose those options which protect human health. (Based on WMMP objective 9, p5)

4.4 Engage and involve our community to achieve waste management goals and objectives

• A. Improve existing levels of communication, and carry out one-off campaigns where necessary, such as the FOGO service or other significant service change.
• B. Establish a working group with waste companies and building businesses to facilitate improved and targeted services for construction and demolition waste. (based on WMMP, p12)
• C. Support and work with local community initiatives. (Based on WMMP, p.12)
• D. Continue the promotion and requirement of sustainable waste management at Council or Council funded events

Note: for more details on the actions, e.g. Council's role, who is involved, when it is scheduled and the funding, please see the action plan in the draft strategy on page 23 to 42.