Waitomo District Council has reviewed its Solid Waste Bylaw and is seeking feedback on the updates.

The scope of the Bylaw is to ensure that acceptable standards of health, safety and compliance are maintained for the wellbeing and enjoyment of residents, visitors and businesses within the district.

The purpose of the Solid Waste Bylaw is to:

• ensure that household waste is reduced, collected and disposed of in the interests of public health and in an efficient and cost-effective manner
• provide for the efficient collection and recovery of recyclable waste
• ensure safe collection and disposal of waste; and
• manage waste management facilities for the optimum disposal or recycling of waste.

The Solid Waste Bylaw was extensively redrafted in 2009 to fit in with the latest legislative requirements, and a full review was conducted in 2014 where some minor amendments were made on accumulated refuse nuisance and out of district waste disposal at Council facilities.

This review has provided the opportunity to further update the Bylaw.

Proposed Updates

Information about perceived problems with solid waste management has been gathered using Council records of public enquiries and complaints, advice from compliance staff, and from discussions with other relevant staff across the organisation.  

Council has reviewed and updated its existing Solid Waste Bylaw as required and is seeking your views.  

The main changes proposed are:

Update definitions: define household waste, prohibited waste, and bin audits, addition of Plastic 5 to the list of accepted recycling.

Kerbside collection: waste should not have overfilled rubbish bags or recycling bins.

Offloading waste: include as per signage.

Green waste: only received at Te Kūiti Transfer Station.

Public litter bins: no disposing of motorhome/camping rubbish

Updates to event management: simplifying our approach that the event organisers are responsible for managing waste during and after their event. If litter is left behind cost to remove and dispose would be charged back to the organisers. Council also expects event organisers to offer recycling receptacles. 

Key Dates