What about rubbish?
In Christchurch, businesses and households send 263,000 tonnes of rubbish a year to the landfill. That’s an average of 764kg for every person in the city — enough to cover a rugby field every month to a depth of 4m (the crossbar is 3m high).
“This is a lot compared to other western countries and has increased by nearly 20 per cent over the last two years,” says Tony Moore, Council’s Waste Planner.
Around 90 per cent of households use kerbside recycling and these days many crates are full to overflowing. There’s no room if the range of recyclable items is increased.
Almost half the average black rubbish bag contains organic waste (kitchen scraps and green waste from the garden), material that could be composted rather than ending up in the landfill.
“Many people aren’t aware that organic waste in the landfill creates greenhouse gases,” says Mr Moore.
The more waste that can be kept out of the landfill, the fewer truck trips to Kate Valley landfill, and the longer the life of the landfill.
“If everyone recycled and composted everything they could, only 30 per cent of what is currently in an average rubbish bag would be left to go to the landfill,” says Mr Moore.
As part of the draft Waste Management Plan 2005 just released for public comment, the Council is considering targets for reducing different types of waste. It also includes possible ways to manage this growing mountain of rubbish and meet those targets, particularly those which aim to reduce household and organic waste:
Option 1 a recycling wheelie bin, which would be collected fortnightly, and 26 rate-funded rubbish bags
Option 2 a recycling wheelie bin and a rubbish wheelie bin, both collected fortnightly
Option 3 a recycling wheelie bin collected fortnightly, an organics wheelie bin collected weekly and householders to buy rubbish bags as they need them.
The Council has not made a decision yet and would like feedback from residents about the options in the draft Waste Management Plan (see p4 for more details). After public input is considered, the preferred option will be included as part of long-term community plan for 2006-16.
Whichever system is selected, it would not be introduced until 2008. Submissions close: Friday, 2 December
- To have your say, fill in a submission form in either the draft Waste Management Plan or Summary Document available at Council service centres and libraries, on the web at www.ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay or by phoning 941 8999
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