Auckland Council has welcomed the Government’s announcement today by Associate Minister for the Environment, Hon Eugenie Sage, to increase funding support for waste minimisation initiatives and address New Zealand’s burgeoning waste challenge.
“Auckland Council has consistently advocated for the need to divert material from landfill and recycle and reuse products—which has environmental and economic benefits,” Mayor Phil Goff said.
“Aucklanders welcome and have got into the habit of recycling. But with the closure of markets in China and Asia, which we relied on to take waste for recycling, there was the huge risk that progress in recycling would be reversed with paper and plastics again going to landfill.
“The government’s announcement signals much-needed investment that will reduce waste and pollution, recover resources and also continue the reduction of global warming gases as we confront climate change,” Phil Goff said.
“With only 20 per cent of Auckland’s waste coming from domestic kerbside collections, the commercial sector must share the commitment to addressing the real cost of waste and be incentivised to divert it from landfill. Expanding the waste levy to cover construction and demolition waste will correct an inequity that exists and have positive impacts on the biggest source of landfill waste currently,” says Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee.
“The waste levy supports innovative business and community projects, creating jobs for Aucklanders and protecting our land for future generations. We must stop the stockpiling of waste and reduce our reliance on landfills,” adds Councillor Hills.
