Huge potential to reduce Kāpiti's waste

The results from the Council's latest household waste survey show that almost half of the household waste Kāpiti residents put out for collection each week could be recycled, composted, or reused.

The survey, which took place in September, involved collecting and sorting through the contents of 280 rubbish bags and wheelie bins from across the district. Solid waste dropped off at the Otaihanga and Ōtaki transfer stations was also surveyed.

Solid Waste Manager Glen O'Connor says the survey shows that there is enormous potential to reduce the amount of waste that is put out for kerbside collection and sent to transfer stations for disposal in Kāpiti.

"Residential wheelie bins and bags sorted during the waste survey contained more than 50 percent recyclable and compostable waste on average, with some of the larger wheelie bins containing up to two thirds of recyclable and compostable waste.

"There is huge potential for our residents to save money and the environment by composting their kitchen and garden waste and recycling material such as paper, plastics, metals and glass," said Mr O'Connor.

"Switching from weekly to fortnightly rubbish collection, or changing to a smaller bin size, will save Kāpiti households money while reducing waste" he said. "Composting kitchen and green waste will also help to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions."

The Council recently adopted the Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Plan which aims to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill per capita by 33 percent within the next nine years. Waste surveys are conducted every three to four years, and help the Council identify trends and plan effective measures to achieve the waste reduction target.

Councillor Jackie Elliott, who is the Kāpiti representative on the Regional Waste Management Forum, says the 2017 survey shows that the total amount of waste per capita sent to landfill from Kāpiti has increased since 2013 so the district has some way to go to meet its reduction target.

"We all have a role to play in meeting this target and we'll need help from our residents, the commercial sector, and other Councils in the region to get there," said Councillor Elliott.

The Council supports a range of programmes to encourage residents to reduce waste and increase composting, such as the national Love Food Hate Waste campaign and free workshops on different composting methods.

Information on what can and can't be recycled in Kāpiti and waste reduction and education initiatives can be found on the Council's website http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/services/A---Z-Council-Services-and-Facilities/Rubbish-and-Recycling/