Draft Waste Management & Minimisation Bylaw
Closed: 16 December 2024
We reviewed the Draft Waste Management and Minimisation bylaw which was adopted in 2018 and was up for review. Councils are required to regularly review bylaws to make sure they are up to date.
Thank you for sharing your views on the draft Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2024.
The main changes proposed by the Council include:
- The name is changed to ‘Waste Management and Minimisation’ Bylaw (from ‘Solid Waste’) to align with the terms used in the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.
- One of the purposes of the Bylaw is changed from being ‘Regulate the collection, storage, management and disposal of waste (including recyclable material) from public places or by persons licensed by the Council’ to ‘Regulate the collection, storage, management and disposal of waste (including recyclable material)’
- The term ‘Collection Point’ is amended to a more general meaning (originally only applying to rural roadside locations, and now meaning ‘a Council advertised location for the collection of waste or recyclable materials’).
- A definition of ‘nuisance’ and ‘premises’ is added.
- The term ‘prohibited waste’ is extended to include all batteries, asbestos, gas containers, fluorescent lights and aerosol cans.
- The term ‘Resource Recovery Centre’ is changed to ‘Waste Management Facility’.
- In terms of using Approved Containers, the bylaw clarifies that containers may not be damaged; that Council may charge to replace Approved Containers that are lost/stolen/damaged; and that Council may require Approved Containers to be placed in alternative locations to be picked up.
- In terms of public litter receptacles, adding that no person may:
- Cause, permit or allow the deposit of any material into a Litter Receptacle that is not approved for that type of waste (as evidenced by signage on or near the Litter Receptable).
- Damage any Litter Receptacle provided by Council.
- Adding clause 20 – that Council may suspend or revoke licences held by waste operators in certain circumstances.
- Adding clause 21.2 – being the actions Council may take where a person does not comply with the requirements of the Bylaw in relation to the waste and diverted materials collection service that applies to them.
The submission period closed at 5:00pm on Monday 16 December 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
The current draft Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw was adopted in 2018 and is now due for review. Under legislation Council is obliged to do these every 6 years.
Tararua District Council is seeking feedback on its draft Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2024, which updates the current Solid Waste Bylaw from 2018. Under legislation Council is obliged to do these every 5 years. Government allows a 2 year extension to enable the reviews of bylaws after the 5 year expiry which is why we are reviewing the bylaws now.
These updates aim to improve waste management practices, ensure public health and safety, and comply with legislative requirements. The Council invites residents to share their views on these proposed changes.
Protecting public health and safety, promoting environmental sustainability, and supporting the goals of Council’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan are the primary reasons for these updates. The Council is proposing these changes to ensure the bylaw remains up-to-date and effective in managing waste within the district. The updates aim to align the bylaw with current legislation, such as the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, and improve clarity and understanding for residents. Additionally, the changes address new issues, enhance waste management practices, and ensure consistency with other councils.
Residents can provide their input by participating in the consultation process. Council will hear and consider submissions as part of a special consultative procedure before finalizing the bylaw.
Yes, the Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2024 will affect the entire district. The bylaw is designed to regulate waste management practices across all areas within the district to ensure consistency, protect public health and safety, and promote environmental sustainability. This means that all residents, businesses, and waste operators within the district will need to comply with the new rules once the bylaw comes into effect.
The name is being changed to ‘Waste Management and Minimisation’ Bylaw to align with the terminology used in the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. This helps ensure consistency and clarity in our waste management practices.
The change in purpose simplifies the language and focuses on regulating the collection, storage, management, and disposal of waste, including recyclable materials. (This includes the urban kerbside recycling collection which started in 2021). This ensures that all waste management activities are covered comprehensively.
The term ‘Collection Point’ now refers to any Council-advertised location for waste or recyclable materials collection, not just rural roadside locations. This makes it easier for residents to understand where they can dispose of their waste.
The bylaw now includes definitions for ‘nuisance’ and ‘premises’ to provide clearer guidelines on what constitutes a nuisance and what is considered a premises. This helps in better enforcement and understanding of the bylaw.
The term ‘prohibited waste’ has been extended to include all batteries, asbestos, gas containers, fluorescent lights, and aerosol cans. These items must be disposed of properly to avoid environmental harm and incur unnecessary costs to other ratepayers.
The term was changed to ‘Waste Management Facility’ to better reflect the range of services provided at these locations, which include not just resource recovery but also other waste management activities.
The bylaw clarifies that approved Containers must not be damaged, and the Council may charge to replace lost, stolen, or damaged containers. Additionally, the Council may require containers to be placed in specific locations for pickup.
The bylaw now states that no person may deposit materials into a Litter Receptacle that are not approved for that type of waste, as indicated by signage. For example: hazardous materials, or any household rubbish. Examples of permitted items are empty coffee cups, shopping vouchers, lunch wrappers, etc etc. Additionally, damaging any Litter Receptacle provided by the Council is prohibited.
Clause 20 allows the Council to suspend or revoke licences held by waste operators in certain circumstances, ensuring that all operators comply with the bylaw and maintain high standards of waste management.
Clause 21.2 outlines the actions the Council may take if a person does not comply with the bylaw in relation to the waste and diverted materials collection service. This ensures that all residents and businesses adhere to the regulations.
Examples include repeated instances of improper waste disposal, illegal dumping, ongoing contamination issues in a kerbside recycling bin, or placing hazardous material into a recycling bin, etc.