In an effort to reduce waste to landfills across New Zealand the government is seeking feedback on its proposals to progressively increase and expand the current landfill levy rates.
Councillor Jackie Elliott, Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Sustainable Waste Management portfolio holder says this is in line with the Regional Waste Minimisation and Management Plan target that the Council has committed to.
“The Council aims to reduce the amount of waste our community sends to landfill from 600kg to 400kg per person per annum by 2026. Reaching this target will require everyone in our community to think about what they send to landfill.
“The Council takes this issue very seriously and will make a submission on the ‘Reducing waste: A more effective landfill levy proposal’ early next year,” Cr Elliott said. “The proposal will also be considered by the Mayoral Taskforce on Waste Minimisation that will report to Council on the 12th of December.”
Councils across New Zealand strongly supported a 2018 remit from Local Government NZ for the government to expand the waste disposal levy and progressively raise the levy in order to reduce total waste to landfills.
All funds collected by the government through the levy are distributed to local councils to be spent in accordance with their Waste Minimisation and Management Plan. The Council allocates funding through its Waste Levy Fund to projects that support waste minimisation.
Cr Elliott is encouraging Kāpiti residents and community groups to make submissions on the proposals. The discussion document can be found at https://www.mfe.govt.nz/consultations/landfill-levy
The consultation period ends on Monday 3 February 2020.
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