To help Auckland achieve a zero-waste future, Auckland Council has rules that support Aucklanders to manage and minimise their waste.
The Solid Waste Bylaw 2012 contains some of those rules, some of which are due to expire later this year.
Chair of the council’s Regulatory Committee, Linda Cooper, says a review of those rules looked at what was working and what could be improved. This has resulted in a proposal for a new waste bylaw - the Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2019 - and amendments to the Trading and Events in Public Places Bylaw 2015.
“We’re looking to establish a new waste bylaw to better outline what Aucklanders need to do to manage and minimise waste in a way that protects the public from health and safety risks and nuisance, and to manage the use of public places.”
“Last year we introduced our Waste Management and Minimisation Plan to help Auckland achieve a zero-waste future, and the new bylaw will make the rules to support this vision.”
“Today we’ve opened public consultation on the proposed changes to how we regulate waste management and minimisation, so we encourage all Aucklanders to have their say by 16 June.”
We propose that the new bylaw:
- Requires people to deposit and dispose of waste appropriately (for example, in a kerbside recycling bin, in a public waste bin or to a waste management facility). Existing controls about the separation, placement and collection of waste will continue to apply
- Requires approval from the council to operate for waste collectors and operators of waste management and resource recovery facilities and donation collection bins
- Aligns the definition of cleanfill with the Unitary Plan
- Clarifies waste management and minimisation plan requirements for trading, events and filming in council-controlled public places, and existing and planned multi-unit developments
- Clarifies the rules to minimise the potential for shopping trolleys, unaddressed mail and donated items to become waste. It also highlights that election material and public notices remain deliverable to all letterboxes despite any non-delivery signs.
How to have your say
Public consultation opened on Friday 10 May and lasts until Sunday 16 June 2019.
There are several ways that you can have your say:
- complete the online feedback form here. Free internet access is available at our libraries
- attend one of the drop-in sessions:
- Wednesday 22 May, at any time between 6pm–8pm, Central City Library, 44 – 46 Lorne Street, Auckland 1010
- Thursday 6 June, at any time between 12pm–1.30pm, Central City Library, 44 – 46 Lorne Street, Auckland 1010
What this consultation and proposed new bylaw do not address:
- litter and illegal dumping
- collection of inorganic material
- establishment of new landfills or other waste management facilities
- amendments to the Trade Waste Bylaw 2013 (separate consultation open until 10 June 2019)
- targeted rates for kerbside collection of food scraps.
