Auckland’s new waste scheme proves useful for charities

April 11, 2016

Auckland’s new waste scheme proves useful for charities

Reusable inorganic items such as these armchairs will now be redirected away from landfill and given to charities under the new waste management system.

Auckland Council’s new inorganic waste system is directing reusable items away from landfill and into the hands of community groups.

The new initiative, dubbed 'Make the Most of Waste', aims to drastically reduce the amount of inorganic rubbish going to landfill.

Rather than leaving items on the roadside, Aucklanders must now book their collection through the council website or by phone. Two trucks then come to properties, one for the reusable items and the other to pick up items destined for landfill.

The reusable items are then taken to a warehouse and from there they are redistributed to over 50 charities and community organisations such as the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity.

According to the council’s waste solutions manager, Ian Stupple, 25,000 tonnes of inorganic waste went into landfill last year.

The council is hoping to divert about a third of this reusable waste to community groups with the new system.

Habitat for Humanity Auckland ReStore Operations Manager, Lindsay Unuia, said that the organisation is getting at least one truckload from the warehouse a day, five days a week.

Habitat for Humanity was mainly getting building supplies and reusable appliances and furniture it can then sell in its stores around Auckland, Mr Unuia said.

Mr Unuia is a big fan of the new inorganic waste management plan.

“I think that the initiative is great, to be able to come up with a system that works in everyone’s favour is just ideal. It’s creating jobs and provides that extra dollar for community organisations such as ours to carry on our good work.”

The initiative was launched in February, however, it has faced some resistance from residents.

Mr Stupple said: “It has not been an easy scheme to introduce. It’s a major behaviour change for people who are used to just putting their inorganics out on the berm”

Mr Stupple said he recognised that most cases of people still putting their inorganic waste out on the roadside was a genuine mistake.

However, the council was strongly against those intentionally dumping their rubbish.

“From our point of view it’s unacceptable, its antisocial behaviour and actually it’s illegal.”

The new inorganics system is part of Auckland Council’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) which aims to create innovative waste strategies with a goal of zero waste to landfills in coming years.

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