Waitomo District’s waste habits are being examined this month as part of a planned audit of the Landfill's refuse and recycling waste streams.

General Manager Infrastructure Services Kobus du Toit explains that the audit helps WDC to better understand how the community is using the Council's waste services, and where we need to focus our education programmes.

“One of the waste problems we have identified is the large proportion (41.5%) of organic and food waste disposed of in kerbside refuse bags. When food ends up in the landfill, it decomposes without oxygen, and as a result, it releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. So it is very important that we achieve a significant decrease in food waste to landfill. The audit results will show us if we are on track towards achieving that goal."

"We encourage people to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, to eliminate waste and protect the environment - strategic goals of the Solid Waste (Asset) Management and Minimisation Plan (SWaMMP).” Says Mr du Toit.

Results of this year’s audit will be reported on later this year as part of Waitomo District Council’s Annual Report 2019/20.

Facts about our Waste Audit:

• A waste audit is an analysis of randomly selected bins and bags from around the district to see what the contents are made up of.
• It helps us to better understand how the community is using the waste services that we provide, and where we need to focus our education programmes.
• The waste data will be recorded by an independent contractor. No data on individual households will be recorded.
• Click here to view the results of the 2016 Waste Audit (page 39, Annual Report 2016/17).