On 23 May 2022, Waikato District Council adopted the targeted rate for the continuation of food waste collection in the Raglan Community.
Councillors unanimously agreed to adopt the targeted rate, citing environmental benefits and Central Government’s direction of travel on food waste among reasons for doing so.
The decision follows a month-long consultation process held in March when 55% of 657 respondents supported the proposed targeted rate.
Property owners who live in Raglan were the majority of respondents (76%), while 12% of the respondents were tenants, 5% were holiday homeowners, 2% were landlords who don’t live in Raglan and 2% were business owners.
About 55% of local property owners, just over 85% of tenants, 30% of holiday homeowners, 62% of landlords and 81% of business owners supported the targeted rate.
Supporters of the targeted rate highlighted the great work that Xtreme Zero Waste (XZW) does in the area of waste minimisation and they acknowledged the importance of the service to the environment.
Councillors acknowledged the many different points of view, the addition of a new rate and the environmental benefits of the service, and are grateful to the Raglan Community for getting involved in the consultation.
Benefits of a food waste collection service
- Following a rubbish bag audit in 2018, the results showed that Raglan had an average of 35% food waste in their blue prepaid rubbish bag that goes to landfill
- Raglan’s food waste collection service enables households to divert more waste from their prepaid rubbish bags.
- With a six-fold increase on the waste levy over the next four years, waste disposal to landfill will cost significantly more.
- The kerbside food waste collection offers an alternative for the community both in terms of environment and economy.
- The Government’s Emission Reduction Plan (ERP) has identified organics, including food waste, as a priority to divert from landfill.
- Food waste emits greenhouse gases; methane and carbon dioxide, in addition, as the resource value when converted to compost is lost when sent to landfill.
- Meeting national targets and international commitments are a priority to address climate impacts and the challenges of increasing waste to landfill.
- Removing food scraps from waste and diverting from landfill is valuable as it reduces public and environmental costs and keeps valuable resources in the community where it can be made into local products and create job opportunities.
