Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee Agenda November 2015

Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee

Thursday 19 November 2015 10.30am Taranaki Regional Council, Stratford

Agenda for the meeting of the Taranaki Solid Waste Management [Joint] Committee to be held in the Taranaki Regional Council chambers, 47 Cloten Road, Stratford, on Thursday 19 November 2015 commencing at 10.30am.

Members Councillors N W Walker (Chairperson) (Taranaki Regional Council) C McFarlane (New Plymouth District Council) A Jamieson (Stratford District Council) I Armstrong (South Taranaki District Council)

Attending Mr G K Bedford (Taranaki Regional Council) Ms H Meintjes (Taranaki Regional Council) Ms N Old-Walton (Regional Waste Minimisation Officer) Mrs K van Gameren (Taranaki Regional Council) Messrs P Ledingham (Taranaki Regional Council) M Hall (New Plymouth District Council) M Baker (New Plymouth District Council) Mrs K Hope (New Plymouth District Council) Messrs S Hanne (Stratford District Council) M Oien (Stratford District Council) B Manning (South Taranaki District Council) H Denton (South Taranaki District Council) Ms E Letendre (South Taranaki District Council) Messrs M Bain (EnviroWaste Services Limited)

Apologies

Notification of Late Items

Item 1 Confirmation of Minutes – 27 August 2015 Page 1

Item 2 Resourcing of Regional Waste Management Officer Page 7 for 2015-2016 update

Item 3 Waste minimisation significant activity report 2014-2015 Page 10

Item 4 WasteMinz Conference Page 23

Item 5 Update on Taranaki Regional Solid Wastes Page 27 Services Contract

Item 6 Report on general matters regarding waste management Page 33

Doc# 1595573-v1

Item 7 Presentation – Fonterra ec0-efficiency programme and Page 35 stewardship schemes

Item 8 General Business

Item 9 Public Excluded

In accordance with section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1986, the public is excluded from the following part of the proceedings of the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee meeting held on Thursday 19 November 2015 for the following reason/s:

Item 10 Confirmation of Confidential Minutes 27 August 2015

That the public conduct of the whole or the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information where the making available of the information is likely to unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the person or people who are subject of the information.

Agenda Memorandum

Date 19 November 2015

Memorandum to Chairperson and Members Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee

Subject: Confirmation of Minutes – 27 August 2015

Item: 1

Approved by: G K Bedford, Director-Environment Quality

B G Chamberlain, Chief Executive

Document: 1595588

Resolve That the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee: 1. takes as read and confirms the minutes and resolutions of the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee meeting held in the Taranaki Regional Council chambers, 47 Cloten Road, Stratford, on Thursday 27 August 2015 at 10.30am 2. notes that the unconfirmed minutes of the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee meeting held in the Taranaki Regional Council chambers, 47 Cloten Road, Stratford, on Thursday 27 August 2015 at 10.30am, have been circulated to the Taranaki Regional Council, New Plymouth District Council, Stratford District Council and South Taranaki District Council for their receipt and information. Matters arising Appendices Document #1561171 – Minutes Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee Thursday 27 August 2015

Minutes of the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee held in Taranaki Regional Council chambers, 47 Cloten Road, Stratford, on Thursday 27 August 2015 commencing at 10.30 am.

Members Councillors C McFarlane (New Plymouth District Council) (Deputy Chairperson) B Roach (South Taranaki District Council) D L Lean (Taranaki Regional Council) A Jamieson (Stratford District Council)

Attending Mr G K Bedford (Taranaki Regional Council) Mrs K van Gameren (Taranaki Regional Council) Mr P Ledingham (Taranaki Regional Council) Mr S Tamarapa (Taranaki Regional Council) Mrs H Meintjes (Taranaki Regional Council) Mrs K Hope (New Plymouth District Council) Messrs M Baker (New Plymouth District Council) H Denton (South Taranaki District Council) S Hanne (Stratford District Council) Miss E Letendre (South Taranaki District Council) Mr M Bain (EnviroWaste Services Limited)

Mr D Elder (EnviroWaste Services Limited) Mr U Signer (Para Kore) Ms E Bailey (Para Kore)

Apologies The apologies from Councillor N W Walker (Taranaki Regional Council), Councillor I Armstrong (South Taranaki District Council), Mr M Hall (New Plymouth District Council), Mr M Oien (Stratford District Council) and Mr B Manning (South Taranaki District Council) were received and sustained.

Notification of Late Items There were no late items of business.

1. Confirmation of Minutes – 28 May 2015

Resolved

THAT the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee 1. takes as read and confirms the minutes and resolutions of the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee meeting held in the Taranaki Regional Council chambers, 47 Cloten Road, Stratford, on Thursday 28 May 2015 at 10.30am

Doc# 1561171-v1

2. notes that the unconfirmed minutes of the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee meeting held in the Taranaki Regional Council chambers, 47 Cloten Road, Stratford, on Thursday 28 May 2015 at 10.30am, have been circulated to the Taranaki Regional Council, New Plymouth District Council, Stratford District Council and South Taranaki District Council for their receipt and information. McFarlane/Roach

Matters Arising

WastMINZ Roundup 23/24 April 2015

The Committee was advised that Mr Nic Bishop, Environmental Manager Fonterra Brands (New Zealand) Limited, has been invited to present on Fonterra’s in-house waste management reduction initiatives. Mr Bishop has not yet been able to confirm

his attendance at the next meeting of the Committee scheduled for 19 November 2015.

2. Response from the Minister for the Environment re priority products and product stewardship schemes

2.1 Ms H Meintjes, Taranaki Regional Coun cil, spoke to the memorandum providing a response from the Minister for the Environment, Hon. Dr N Smith, to the Committee’s letter relating priority products and product stewardship schemes (Document #1518990 8 June 2015).

Resolved

THAT the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee

1. receives the response from the Minister for the Environment, Hon. Dr N Smith, to the Committee’s letter relating priority products and product stewardship schemes (Document #1518990 8 June 2015). Lean/Jamieson

3. Resourcing of Regional Waste Minimisation Officer for 2015-2016 update

3.1 The memorandum updating the Committee on the resourcing of the role of Regional Waste Minimisation Officer (RWMO) for 2015/2016 was received and discussed.

3.2 Mr G K Bedford, Taranaki Regional Council, noted to the Committee that recruitment of a RWMO has been underway with candidates shortlisted and interviewed by both regional and district council staff. Some unforeseen developments have temporarily halted the progress towards an appointment. The Committee will be kept informed.

Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee Meeting Thursday 27 August 2015

Resolved

THAT the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee 1. receives the memorandum and notes the progress towards appointing a Regional Waste Minimisation Officer. McFarlane/Roach

4. Illegal Dumping

4.1 Ms H Meintjes, Taranaki Regional Council, spoke to the memorandum updating the Committee on the activities of the illegal dumping working group.

4.2 The 0800 number is still operational and fielding enquiries which are passed to the relevant district council enforcement officers.

4.3 Councillor B Roach, South Taranaki District Council, noted that the illegal dumping roadsign placed at the SH3 entrance to Opunake Township does not create a favourable impression for visitors. It was suggested that the illegal dumping working group consider repositioning the sign.

Resolved

THAT the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee 1. receives the memorandum on illegal dumping (update) and notes that the illegal dumping working group will meet later in 2015. Roach/Jamieson

5. Update on Taranaki Regional Solid Wastes Services Contract

5.1 Mrs K Hope, New Plymouth District Council, and Mr M Bain, EnviroWaste Services Limited, provided an update to the Committee on the preparation for the new Regional Solid Waste Services Contract.

5.2 New rubbish and recycling bins are steadily being delivered to residents in in district. An education campaign for the improved recycling service has commenced and information packs on recycling are being delivered in conjunction with the delivery of recycling bins. Open days are planned for each district for the public to see the new trucks and collection system in advance of the start date. The New Plymouth District Council are working on amendments to their Solid Waste Bylaw to ensure the new contract and collection methodology is reflected in the Bylaw by the start of the new contract.

Resolved

THAT the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee 1. receives the reports related to the Taranaki Regional Solid Wastes Services Contract.

Lean/Roach

Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee Meeting Thursday 27 August 2015

6. Presentation – EnviroWaste Services Limited

6.1 Mr D Elder, General Manager (Market Development & Sales, EnviroWaste Services Limited), provided a presentation to the Committee on EnviroWaste’s business model and specific services provided by EnviroWaste in Taranaki.

Resolved

THAT the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee 1. notes and receives with thanks the presentation by Mr D Elder General Manager (Market Development & Sales, EnviroWaste Services Limited. McFarlane/Jamieson

7. Presentation –waste management in Para Kore programme

7.1 Mr U Signer and Ms E Bailey, Waste Advisors Para Kore (Taranaki), provided a presentation to the Committee on the Para Kore Programme in Taranaki that works with marae to increase the reuse, recycling and composing of materials. In year three for Taranaki, Memoranda of Understanding have been entered into with 16 marae in Taranaki.

7.2 Funding for Para Kore was secured through the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund and ends in January 2016. Para Kore Marae Incorporated are expecting to apply for funding to continue the programme which is growing nationally. Discussions are being held with the Taranaki councils for their continued support.

7.3 A copy of Para Kore’s presentation was requested by Members for information purposes.

Resolved

THAT the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee 1. notes and receives with thanks the presentation by Mr U Signer and Ms E Bailey on behalf of Para Kore (Taranaki). Roach/Lean

8. General Business

There were no items of general business.

9. Public Excluded

In accordance with section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1986, resolves that the public be excluded from the following part of

the proceedings of the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee meeting held on Thursday 27 August 2015 for the following reason/s:

Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee Meeting Thursday 27 August 2015

Item 10 Organic Waste Diversion Project

McFarlane/Lean

There being no further business, Deputy Chairperson, Councillor C McFarlane (New Plymouth District Council) declared the meeting of the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee closed at 12.10pm.

Confirmed

Committee Chairperson: ______N W Walker

Date: 19 November 2015

Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee Meeting Thursday 27 August 2015

Agenda Memorandum

Date 19 November 2015

Memorandum to Chairperson and Members Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee

Subject: Resourcing of Regional Waste Management Officer for 2015-2016 update

Item: 2

Approved by: G K Bedford, Director-Environment Quality

B G Chamberlain, Chief Executive

Document: 1593791

Purpose The purpose of this memorandum is to update the Committee on the resourcing of the role of Regional Waste Minimisation Officer for 2015-2016.

Executive summary Nadine Ord-Walton was appointed as the Regional Waste Minimisation Officer. Nadine has been employed by the Science Services Section of Council and changed roles on Monday 09 November 2015.

Recommendations That the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee: 1. notes the appointment of Nadine Ord-Walton as the Regional Waste Minimisation Officer.

Background At the start of March, Mrs N West resigned from the role of Regional Waste Minimisation Officer (RWMO) and accepted a role with the Policy and Planning Section of the Taranaki Regional Council. Subsequently, the position remained vacant until the Committee meeting in May 2015 awaiting confirmation from the councils on the future of the resourcing arrangements for this role.

Discussions were held between the councils. The Stratford District Council had also provided a proposal to relocate the position of the RMWO to their council.

At the May Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee meeting, the four councils agreed a proposal that the RWMO be retained as a 0.8 FTE within the Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) and that the financial resourcing of the position be as follows: the Taranaki Regional Council 30% of the costs at $40,553 for 2015/2016 with the three district councils contributing 70% at $94,623 for 2015/2016. Further it was agreed that although the costs would be subject to the usual adjustment for inflation, the TRC will offer to continue to fund 30% of the costs for the next three financial years.

The Committee noted that the agreement will be revisited in three years’ time when the district councils will need to reconsider their level of financial contribution with a view to the Taranaki Regional Council reducing their contribution when the time arises.

Applications for the waste minimisation officer role were received in June 2015. Candidates were shortlisted and interviewed by both regional and district council staff. An appointment was not made and the role was readvertised in September 2015.

Discussion

The appointment of Nicolette West into a Policy Analyst role resulted in a vacancy for a Waste Minimisation Officer. Agreement from the three District Councils has recently seen budget approval for funding for a Waste Minimisation Officer for another three years, at 0.8FTE.

Forty-five applications were received when the role was re-advertised in September. Six applicants were shortlisted for interviews which were conducted by Helen Meintjes (TRC Science Manager), Kimberly Hope (NPDC), Mike Oien (SDC), Herbert Denton (STDC) and Karen Smylie (TRC HR Manager).

The panel considered that the following skills/experience were especially relevant to the role: • Waste minimisation – general knowledge and familiarity • Community engagement – the ability to communicate with a diverse range of people and achieve behaviour change • Co-ordination – especially between the four councils (but also external parties), the ability to manage conflicting demands and a varied workload • Public policy and planning – the skills to assist the four councils in the upcoming review of their strategies and plans as well as drafting submissions/responses on any relevant central government matters.

Nadine Ord-Walton was the preferred candidate. She has a Master of Arts in Social Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Politics. She is currently enrolled in a Graduate Diploma in Business (Communications). Nadine is currently employed by the TRC, working in the Science Services team as their Administrator for a year. Nadine had experience working for the Auckland City Council in community development and planning roles. Her planning experience will be valuable especially in the next two years when the district councils need to review their waste management and minimisation plans.

Financial considerations—LTP/Annual Plan This memorandum and the associated recommendations are consistent with the Council’s adopted Long-Term Plan and estimates. Any financial information included in this memorandum has been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice.

Legal considerations This memorandum and the associated recommendations comply with the appropriate statutory requirements imposed upon the Council.

Agenda Memorandum

Date 19 November 2015

Memorandum to Chairperson and Members Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee

Subject: Waste minimisation significant activity report 2014-2015

Item: 3

Approved by: G K Bedford, Director-Environment Quality

B G Chamberlain, Chief Executive

Document: 1597080

Purpose The purpose of this memorandum is to introduce the significant annual activity report on the Taranaki Regional Council’s delivery of the waste minimisation function for the 2014/15 year on behalf of the four councils of Taranaki.

Recommendations That the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee: 1. receives this memorandum 2. receives the Taranaki Regional Council’waste minimisation significant activity report for 2014/2015.

Background At the end of each financial year, significant annual activity reports are prepared outlining the progress made in the achievement of the Regional Council’s various programmes and activities. The reports review progress made in achieving the Council’s significant programmes and activities as set out in the Annual Plan in a way that is informative and appealing to the broader community, for example through the use of graphs, tables, charts, case studies, and photographs.

The attached report is structured on the Council’s 2012/2022 Long-Term Plan and the 2014/2015 Annual Plan, which has ‘levels of service’ and ‘activities’ under each significant area of activity. The report describes the activities undertaken towards the achievement of the respective programmes.

Discussion A brief summary of the key highlights for the 2014/2015 year are as follows:

• The major awareness campaign for 14/15 was illegal dumping, including an 0800 number, signage and surveillance cameras. The systems are now in place to allow the enforcement officers across the region to work effectively together to tackle this problem. • A regional approach to waste management has continued. The Regional “We Can” brand continues to be used when promoting projects and programmes related to waste in the region. • Investigating options for the management and diversion of organic waste from landfill was funded for the 2014-2015 year by the Committee, with a study by Eunomia Consulting completed during the year. • The Waste Minimisation Officer has collaborated on the national ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign, while the in-house waste minimisation programme was maintained. • A waste minimisation education programme for schools has been developed and implemented, along with a trial of composting activity for schools and early childhood centres at the Pukeiti Rainforest School. • External providers of waste solutions have been active in the region, including: An Agrecovery collection of agrichemicals being undertaken in the near future, and is supported financially by the MfE and the Councils.

Project liteCLUB provided assistance to 16 sports clubs in the region during the 14/15 year, with three clubs to date being part of an acceleration programme.

The Para Kore zero waste programme for Marae are on track to meet the projects objective of 20 marae in Taranaki implementing a waste minimisation programme.

Financial considerations—LTP/Annual plan This memorandum and the associated recommendations are consistent with the Council’s adopted Long-Term Plan and estimates. Any financial information included in this memorandum has been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice.

Legal considerations This memorandum and the associated recommendations comply with the appropriate statutory requirements imposed upon the Council.

Appendices/Attachments Document 1562528: Waste minimisation significant activity report.

Waste minimisation significant activity report 2014-2015

• Assistance in the design process for the Activities planned for 2014/2015 regional refuse and recycling contract.

Assist sector leaders in six activity areas in exploring and implementing energy Illegal Dumping of Waste efficiency and waste minimisation. The major awareness campaign for for waste

minimisation in the region in this reporting year was illegal dumping of rubbish. The Waste Minimisation Assistance illegal dumping working group, comprising Waste minimisation assistance was provided representatives from the NZTA, DoC, the through a number of initiatives during the district councils and TRC, have been charged 2014/15 year: with the collection of illegal dumping data. • The organic waste diversion study was This led to a follow-up report ‘Illegal awarded to Eunomia on 05 March 2015, Dumping of Waste in the Taranaki Region following receipt and review of tenders, and was completed by the 30th June 2015. 2014’, which was presented at the August 2014 • Trialing of a composting activity for Solid Waste Management Committee (SWMC) schools and early childhood centres is meeting. underway as part of visits by these groups to the Pukeiti Rainforest School. The illegal dumping campaign commenced in • A regional food waste programme, September 2014 and ran for six weeks. The including an initial data collection effort campaign included the implementation of an (kitchen diaries, kerbside food waste, 0800 number and web-based form for online national survey). reporting illegally dumped rubbish; a clean up • The waste minimisation officer served on the working group for Love Food Hate of Mount Messenger; use of surveillance Waste (the national food waste cameras and the installation of various minimisation campaign). Love Food Hate roadside signs. Waste was officially launched on the 12th March 2015. Staff across the Taranaki Regional Council (TRC), and in the district councils, were involved in the communication and promotion of the campaign. • Electronic waste recycling was addressed within a submission made to the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) on priority waste streams for product stewardship. • Agrecovery is coordinating a second collection of agrichemicals in November/December 2015 with 1500kg Deterant signage used in areas where dumping occurs booked for collection. Funding from MFE frequently and councils was confirmed. • Collaborated with the three district With the 0800 number and web site form councils, Department of Conservation working well, along with the signage and (DoC) and NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) cameras, enforcement officers across the in undertaking a campaign on illegal region and the members from NZTA and DOC dumping. indicated that the systems were now in place • Participation in ‘Keep NZ Beautiful’ to facilitate this group with less input from the project in Stratford in September 2014.

waste officers, and to allow the enforcement will look at the composting and worm farms officers to work effectively together. in use at Pukeiti and how the gardeners use the material produced to enrich the soil. They Calls through the 0800 number have decreased will also learn how to establish a new system following the awareness campaign to less than at their school or how to operate their existing 5 by the end of 2014/15 as compared with system more efficiently. around 35 per month when the campaign was running. Lessons will be facilitated by the TRC’s Education Officer with assistance from the Pukeiti gardeners and the Waste Minimisation Officer.

Illegal dumping at Otaraoa Road Schools

Students from Te Pipi’inga Kakano Mai Rangitea The TRC has an extensive school’s waste undertake a waste audit minimisation programme. During the last year the Education officer and Waste WITT Orientation Minimisation Officer have assisted three The Waste Minimisation Officer had a stall at schools with support for their waste the Western Institute of Technology at minimisation programmes. This support Taranaki’s (WITT) orientation in July 2014 and involved three school-wide waste audits, all of February 2015, to help educate students and which were preceded by pre-audit class and staff about use of WITT’s waste and recycling followed by follow-up lessons with the same stations. Students could complete a classes. Pre-audit classes involve waste questionnaire to win a prize of a mini-wheelie minimisation in general, examine how bin. The questionnaire was designed to clarify individuals and classes could improve their into which of the three bins different items current practices, and emphasise the good should be placed: recyclable, compostable or a work they were already doing. landfill. The waste audits allowed the schools to discover what types, amounts and weights of waste they were sending to the landfill.

Following the waste audits the schools were re-visited to help the students analyse the audit results and put together a plan to reduce their future waste.

TRC now offer a half hour lesson as part of a day visit to the Rainforest School at Pukeiti for schools and early childhood centres. Children Council stand at WITT Orientation July 2014

Project liteCLUB Levy Fund. The intention is to gather data over the year and use this for case studies to Project LiteClub promotes sustainability in demonstrate the value of recycling to other sports clubs. LiteClub works with the clubs clubs. An update of their waste accelerator and local waste businesses to facilitate a programme is as follows: detailed waste minimisation plan. Clubs are given sorting at source bins for recycling, and Inglewood Golf have recently completed the water and energy saving devices such as low waste accelerator programme with excellent flow shower heads and energy efficient light waste minimisation results: bulbs. The TRC continues to support this • Landfill diverted fromlandfill - 19,080 litres project and the Waste Minimisation Officer • Total waste disposal costs reduced by $288 has provided local information. • Materials recycled overall - 45,660 litres

To date, 40 clubs have received assistance (16 Paritutu Bowls are midway through the of these in the 2014/2015 financial year which programme and are due to finish in November are listed below): 2015. 1. Manukorihi Sports and Social Club New Plymouth Old Boys are due to finish 2. NPOB Cricket their programme March 2016. 3. Manukorihi Golf Club Despite significant effort one club eventually 4. Fitzroy Bowling Club declined on having the new bins installed and 5. Coastal Rugby Club as a result LiteClub are currently in the 6. Kawaroa Park Squash process of securing a fourth case study.

7. Moturoa Football Club More information can be found at 8. New Plymouth Sport Fishing & Underwater www.projectlitefoot.org. Club 9. Moturoa Football Club Para Kore 10. Huatoki Tennis Club Para Kore is a zero waste programme for 11. Rotokare Tennis marae which began in Taranaki in April 2013. The programme is funded by MfE and local 12. Stratford Speedway councils. The recently appointed facilitators, 13. Eltham Golf Club Emily Bailey and Urs Singer replaced waste 14. Peringa AFC advisors Rachael and Jason Ruakere who initiated the programme. They have been 15. NP Golf implementing the Para Kore programme at the 16. Kaitake Golf 16 marae in Taranaki and are on target to meet A stand out success story from this list was the project’s objective of 20 marae in Taranaki. that of Stratford Speedway (Taranaki Stock Car) who transferred their landfill waste Part of the Para Kore programme involves contracts to Waste Management and have teaching marae to wash and squash plastics gone from zero recycling to having 24 and cans, to flatten cardboard and separate out recycling bins stationed around the circuit. food waste. Composting of organic waste (that isn’t fed to animals) and worm farming is Four of the larger clubs are now part of a promoted. waste minimisation acceleration programme. This includes an initial year of free recycling, provided with assistance from NPDC’s Waste

Recycling bins placed at an event

Para Kore has also secured some funding through the World Wildlife Fund's Environmental Education Action Fund to establish low-cost compost bins at a marae. This will be implemented at several marae as part of the third year of the project.

Para Kore has been marketed through social media, radio interviews, email newsletters, print-media articles and through attendance of key events.

Para Kore report that marae are aware of significant financial benefits when waste is reduced. Para Kore intend to work with marae to make the best use of the new collection contract.

In-house waste minimisation The reduction in the amount of compostable programme material is reducing less spectacularly, down 4.11% since last year and down 9.19% since 2009. Activities planned for 2014/2015

Maintain an in-house waste minimisation programme.

In collaboration with TRC staff, the waste minimisation officer has continued to implement the in-house energy reduction and waste recovery programmes. Typically this group is involved in activities that promote sustainability within the Council and to identify improvements that can be made. In house waste audit Activities of the group have included the Keep NZ Beautiful clean up day, organisation of the One concern was that the audit indicated that recycling for the TRC Christmas event, nearly 240kg of recyclable paper is likely still induction sessions for new TRC staff on being sent to landfill every year. sustainablity, waste audits, the writing of reports and 'highlights' posted on the TRC Some recommendations for further future intranet. The waste minimisation officer was improvements were advised to TRC staff also involved in the design of signage and following the audit. engagement of contractors for the Tupare public space recycling area. Clean Up New Zealand Week The in-house sustainability group organised Internal Waste Audit staff participation in the annual Clean Up New Another internal waste audit was held at the Zealand week in September 2014, along with TRC in February 2015, following similar staff from Stratford District Council. The 24 exercises the previous year and in 2009. This volunteers collected 19 bags of rubbish involved a week of waste from the main weighing an estimated 135kg, and 6 bags of council site in Stratford being audited by a recyclables. They also noted some illegal volunteer team of staff. dumping.

The results of the audit were encouraging, with healthy reductions in; total waste, recyclable material and compostable material going to landfill.

Anaylising the audit results, it was concluded that currently 12.43 kg a year of waste per full- time employee goes to landfill, down 6.05% since last year and down 42.18% since 2009.

Even more impressively, the amount of recyclables being sent to landfill is down 25% Clean Up New Zealand – Stratford 2014 per FTE since last year, and down significantly by 74.32% since 2009.

Working with the agriculture State of Environment reporting included some sector information on silage wrap and agricultural container recovery. The waste minimisation Activities planned for 2014/2015 officer liaised with Plasback staff and met with a representative from the Agrecovery Work with the agricultural sector to Foundation. Initial investigations in identify, implement and/or promote waste undertaking a farm audit on waste minimisation opportunities. management were underway, but with a Continue to promote the recovery of silage change in the waste minimisation officer, this wraps and agrichemical containers. has been placed on temporary hold.

The waste minimisation officer has been Rural Plastics Recycling involved in on-going publicity and performance monitoring and reporting on Programmes redundant agrichemicals, containers, and farm The Council continues to support Plasback plastics collection services and programmes. and Agrecovery farm plastics recycling schemes. A number of calls have been received from the public and information and advice has been The Plasback plastics recycling programme offered on disposal of various chemicals. allows farmers to recycle several types of plastics used on farms including silage wrap, MfE funding for intractable chemicals has polypropylene bags (for example magnesium been confirmed and the four councils have oxide bags), HDPE drums and twine. Over agreed to fund $2,000 each. This funding is for the past year a total of 139 tonne of plastic has chemicals that have not been funded for been collected in the Taranaki region disposal by participating brand owners. MfE compared with 54 tonne in the 13/14 year. covers the legacy and chemicals of high toxicity (specifically persistant organic The Agrecovery rural recycling programme pollutants). allows farmers to recycle agrichemical plastic containers and crop netting, and also recovers Bookings for collections closed in April and drums for reuse. the collection is occurring in November / December 2015, with 1500 Kgs booked for collection.

Case Study: Topless dairy farm, Strathmore

The outcome

On average, around 225 silage wraps are recycled each year – that’s more than 400kg of plastic not being burnt or buried.

About the Topless dairy farm

Greg and Hannah Topless have a 150ha dairy farm and milk 220 cows once a day. They also stock 100 sheep and 20 to 30 hold-over cows.

What used to happen

When Greg and Hannah first went sharemilking, there was no recycling of farm waste or household waste. It all went into a pit to be burned.

What changes were made

At their next sharemilking job, the owners About 70 litres of recycling is taken to the were recycling silage wrap and Greg and Transfer Station monthly, along with one or Hannah continued doing this when they two ute-loads of farm rubbish each year. moved to their own farm. They also store agricultural remedy and dairy hygiene product containers until a collection event, or until another recycling solution is found. Waste minimisation is now part of their routine. Recyclables and food waste are separated from household rubbish, with recyclables taken to Stratford Transfer Station and food waste is fed to animals or composted.

Greg and Hannah have developed a different way of thinking. For example, they make New ideas for cutting down on waste are washing powder from simple ingredients, and always looked at, with recycling of drums, have cut down on the need for cleaning magnesium bags and twine being investigated products by using reusable cloths, baking soda at the time this case study was written. and vinegar. Hannah and Greg have also taken their waste minimsation awareness to community organisations they are involved with.

A Regional Approach to Waste Tender documents were emailed to selected Management consultants requesting proposals to be submitted by the end of February 2015.

Activities planned for 2014/2015 Evaluations were undertaken with the evaluation team comprising of waste officers Facilitate a regional approach to waste from each of the four councils in the region. management initiatives and programmes The project was awarded to Eunomia Research at policy, management, and and Consulting New Zealand (Eunomia) and implementation levels, in particular the contract agreed on 30 March 2015. servicing the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee, implementing a The report was completed by the end of June revision of the Regional Waste Strategy by 2015 and the findings have been reported to June 2021, and partnering in revising the committee. waste plans for the three districts of Regional Waste Taranaki. Brand

The ‘We Can’ brand continues Servicing of the Taranaki Solid Waste to be used when promoting Management Committee (the Committee) continued throughout year. projects and programmes related to waste in the region. Organic Waste Diversion Study The ‘We Can’ website has been a useful portal for the The Waste Management and Minimisation regional projects such as the Strategy for Taranaki and the district councils’ illegal dumping campaign and the change Waste Management and Minimisation Plans over of the collection contract. identified organic waste as a key area where significant diversion from landfill could be Priority Waste Streams for achieved. Product Stewardship A brief outline of some existing and emerging Intervention technologies for managing these materials was The Committee had submitted on the MfE provided to the Committee. It was concluded Discussion Document which sought feedback that more information was needed before any on whether government should intervene to recommendations could be made about how improve the management of four product organic wastes are best addressed in the waste streams: electrical and electronic region. As an outcome of this, in June 2014 the equipment; tyres; agrichemicals and farm TRC allocated funding through the 2014-2015 plastics; and refrigerants and other synthetic annual plan process to investigate options for greenhouse gases. the management and diversion of organic waste from landfill. The Committee’s submission asked for all four groups to be declared priority products, and Subsequently a draft project brief was for this to be done as soon as possible so that prepared outlining the extent of research industry can start preparing for the changes. It required to establish a preferred also suggested that used motor oil be option/options for diversion of organic waste included, given the positive assessment in the Taranaki region. against four of the five criteria used in the discussion document.

Case Studies Taranaki Regional Waste Waste minimisation case studies have been Minimisation Education produced as examples of how Taranaki Strategy companies and organisations large and small In May 2013 the have enjoyed positive outcomes for the Taranaki Regional environment and their business by taking Waste Minimisation waste minimisation seriously. The case studies Education Strategy was can be viewed at TRC website - developed to www.trc.govt.nz/minimising-waste-at- document the region’s work/#top approach to education and communication as well as identify the projects and programmes to be undertaken annually. The strategy requires that an annual programme plan be prepared outlining the activities to be undertaken during the year and that this is ratified annually by the Committee. The Annual programme plan was presented to the committee at the November 2014 meeting where it was ratified by the committee members.

This document can be viewed online at http://www.trc.govt.nz/taranaki-s-waste- strategy/

Conclusion

The Council provided waste minimisation A waste minimisation education programme assistance thorugh a number of initiaves for schools has been developed and during the 2014/15 year. implemented, along with a trial of composting The major awareness campaign for 14/15 was activity for schools and early childhood illegal dumping, including an 0800 number, centres at the Pukeiti Rainforest School. signage and surveilliance cameras. The External providers of waste solutions have systems are now in place to allow the been active in the region, including: enforcement officers across the region to work effectively together to tackle this problem. . An Agrecovery collection of agrichemicals being undertaken in the near future, and is A regional approach to waste management supported financially by the MfE and the has continued. The Regional “We Can” brand Councils. continues to be used when promoting projects . Project liteCLUB provided assistance to 16 and programmes related to waste in the sports clubs in the region during the 14/15 region. Investigating options for the year, with three clubs to date being part of management and diversion of organic waste an acceleration programme. from landfill was funded for the 2014-2015 year by the Committee, with a study by . The Para Kore zero waste programme for Eunomia Consulting completed during the Marae are on track to meet the projects objective of 20 marae in Taranaki year. implementing a waste minimisation The Waste Minimisation Officer has also programme. collaborated on the national Love Food Hate The work carried out contributed to the Waste campaign, while the in-house waste desired community outcomes of a sustainable minimisation programme was maintained. and prosperous region.

Agenda Memorandum

Date 19 November 2015

Memorandum to Chairperson and Members Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee

Subject: WasteMinz conference

Item: 4

Approved by: G K Bedford, Director-Environment Quality

B G Chamberlain, Chief Executive

Document: 1592264

Purpose The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an overview for the Committee on the presentations and emerging themes at the recent WasteMinz (Waste Management Institute New Zealand) Conference.

Executive summary The theme of the WasteMinz annual conference held in October 2015 was a ‘circular economy for New Zealand’. A Territorial Authority forum was held as part of the conference with discussion specifically around the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, opportunities for collective change making, and the national waste data framework. Behaviour change permeated across all streams of the conference.

Recommendation That the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee: 1. receives this memorandum and notes the discussion from the latest WasteMinz Conference held in October 2015.

Background WasteMinz, a membership-based representative body of the waste and resource recovery sector in New Zealand, coordinates an annual national conference. Helen Meintjes, TRC Science Manager - Business Support, and Nadine Ord-Walton, Waste Minimisation Officer attended the conference in October, held in Rotorua.

Discussion Theme The theme set for the conference was ‘a circular economy for New Zealand’. A circular economy is defined as “an alternative to a traditional linear economy (make, use, dispose) in which we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end-of-life. As well as creating new opportunities for growth, a more circular economy will: . reduce waste . drive greater resource productivity . position New Zealand to better address emerging resource scarcity issues in the future . help reduce the environmental impacts of our production and consumption”

Territorial Authority Forum

A full-day forum comprised of Territorial Authority (TA) staff and Councillors was held. Discussion was directed around the following projects: . Love Food Hate Waste Campaign . Opportunities for collective change making . National Waste Data Framework

Love Food Hate Waste This project has received high levels of interest from the public and media. The funding decision from the Ministry is anticipated for December 2015. The planned themes for implementation over three years are: Year 1: Love your leftovers Year 2: Food storage Year 3: Strategies for families The initial target audiences are: families with under 15 year olds and large families. Resources to be developed include a website, newsletter, resources for schools, training materials for champions, and marketing and campaign collateral.

Collective change making A general feeling was expressed at the lack of leadership at central / ministry level. However, regional or national collaboration to achieve objectives was seen as a way forward. The forum considered possible future collaborative projects. The TA steering committee will contact the TAs in due course to confirm issues and priorities for future collaborative projects. Possible earmarking of the Waste Levy for collaborative projects, may be requested.

National Waste Data Framework A national Waste Data Framework has been developed. This includes protocols for gathering and reporting data on solid waste that is ultimately disposed of at disposal facilities, and protocols for gathering and presenting information on waste and diverted material services and facilities. This is a voluntary framework. Presentations on the use of the protocols were made by Auckland Council, MacKenzie and Ashburton District Council.

Behaviour Change Behaviour change permeated across all streams of the conference. Two Australian speakers provided lessons from projects in their municipality. One speaker discussed the implementation and lessons from their media plan for the launching of a new Materials

Recovery Facility in Lismore, while another discussed how they addressed high contamination in recycling in one particular area of Bankstown, Sydney, with a significant multi-cultural population.

The WasteMinz Behaviour Change Sector Group has focussed on two projects over the past year: being standardising colours for mobile rubbish and recycling containers so as to reduce confusion and hence contamination; and the Love Food Hate Waste project.

WasteMinz Strategic Investment Fund WasteMinz held their AGM during the conference. Of particular interest was the implementation of their Strategic Investment Fund. This allows Waste MINZ to provide a “small amount of ‘seed’ funding to contribute towards the advancement of projects, which have benefits for the sector as a whole”. A contestable application round was held during the 14/15 year. Their funding was dispersed to the following: Organisation Amount Project Water New Zealand $10,000 Organic Materials Guidelines Environment Canterbury $10,000 NZ rural waste minimisation project Winstone Wallboards $5,000 Design out waste project

Awards for Excellence WasteMinz has introduced Awards for Excellence to be presented at the annual conference. Four awards were presented. Category Winner Project

Best project or initiative in Foodstuffs Recyclable rPET (recycled plastic) butchery the commercial or public tray sector Best communication, Waste E Toolbox - a selection of short videos engagement or education Management NZ developed for Waste Management’s initiative Wellington Recycling branch, relating to specific health and safety topics communicated in both English and Samoan Best expo site Waste (at the conference) Management NZ Best written paper Shaun Bowler Closing the loop: In-vessel composting of (at the conference) (Bluefin) and food waste by the New Zealand Defence Anne Lightfoot Force at the Devonport Naval Base. (New Zealand Defence Force).

Legal considerations This memorandum and the associated recommendations comply with the appropriate statutory requirements imposed upon the Council.

Agenda Memorandum

Date 19 November 2015

Memorandum to Chairperson and Members Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee

Subject: Regional solid waste contract update

Item: 5

Approved by: G K Bedford, Director-Environment Quality

B G Chamberlain, Chief Executive

Document: 1596851

Purpose The purpose of this memorandum is to update the Committee on the regional solid waste contract and to introduce any verbal reports pertaining to this contract.

Recommendations That the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee: 1. receives this memorandum 2. receives the Regional Solid Waste Services Contract 15/SW01 – one month into new recycling service report.

Summary A report prepared by the New Plymouth District Council on the implementation of the regional solid waste contract is attached. The new contract started on 1 October 2015.

Legal considerations This memorandum and the associated recommendations comply with the appropriate statutory requirements imposed upon the Council.

Appendices/Attachments Document 1596842: Regional Solid Waste Services Contract 15/SW01 – One month into new recycling service

When replying please quote: ECM6814638

Date: 9 November 2015

To: Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee

SUBJECT: REGIONAL SOLID WASTE SERVICES CONTRACT 15/SW01 – ONE MONTH INTO NEW RECYCLING SERVICE

The Regional Solid Waste Services contract, which encompasses kerbside collection and transfer station services for New Plymouth, Stratford and South Taranaki district councils, was awarded to EnviroWaste Services Ltd in late 2014. The new contract started on 1 October 2015 and we have now been operating under an improved recycling service for over a month.

Key actions and progress since the last update in August are discussed below.

1. EnviroWaste Services Limited completed all contract requirements for the implementation phase of the contract and are now well into the operation phase.

2. Delivery of NPDC rubbish bags occurred two weeks prior to the start of the new contract. Due to a late shipment of the final container of rubbish bags, Inglewood was delivered half of their yearly allocation of bags, with the remainder delivered in the first week of November.

Due to the collection contract starting mid-week there were also some NPDC households that missed a collection during the week of the changeover. These households are being delivered an extra bag during November to compensate.

3. The education campaign for the improved recycling service, which began on 9 July, continued to be implemented as planned and emerging issues were addressed by each council as they arose. The community began to become familiar with the changes as bins were delivered to households (starting in July in New Plymouth, then South Taranaki in August, with Stratford delivering crates in September).

The increased awareness resulted in a significant increase in customer service calls at the councils (Figure 1) which peaked in October when the new collection started. For NPDC calls peaked at over 550 calls per day, most of which were resolved (Figure 2). Those that could not be resolved were logged as service requests which the solid waste team then responded to. Extra staff have been working to cover the additional

Page 1 of 4 30

workload as a result of the changes in the kerbside collection. STDC and SDC have experienced similar levels of community enquiries.

5000 New contract 4500 started

4000

3500

3000

2500 Bin delivery started 2000

1500 Number of solid waste calls month per calls waste solid of Number 1000

500

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

2015 Solid Waste Calls 2015 Solid Waste SR’s 2014 Solid Waste Calls 2014 Solid Waste SR’s

Figure 1 Number of calls received monthly related to solid waste at NPDC call centre

600

500

400

300

Number per day 200

100

Number of Solid Waste Calls Service Requests Logged

Figure 2 Number of calls and service requests received daily between 28 September and 31 October at the NPDC call centre

Key areas of public enquiry included: • General clarification of the new system. • Concerns from the elderly and disabled communities regarding getting bins and crates to the kerbside.

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• NPDC rural residents and CBD which were not included in collection. • Non-rated and new properties within the collection area requiring bin deliveries. • Missing or stolen bins and bags. • More recently, missed collections as people get used to changes in the time that refuse and recycling is collected in their area.

As part of the communication plan, NPDC developed and released a web based collection day address search and a recycling search tool. In addition a smart phone app has been developed which shows your collection day and which week recycling or glass should be put out on the kerbside for collection. It also has reminders and the recycling search. This technology has proved to be invaluable internally as well as for the community with over 1500 downloads of the app to date.

An open day was held in each district during September (New Plymouth’s was cancelled due to weather) which was an opportunity for the public get to see the trucks and collection system in advance of the start date. NPDC arranged for the glass truck to be at the Seaside Market on 4 October in place of the cancelled open day.

We are now moving into a phase of communication around how well we are doing with the new system.

Figure 3 Mayor of New Plymouth, Andrew Judd in the glass truck at the Seaside Market on 4 October

4. NPDC approved proposed amendments to the Solid Waste Bylaw in late September to ensure that the new contract and collection methodology was reflected in the bylaw by the start of the contract. A reduction in the maximum allowed rubbish bag weight from 20kg to 15kg was approved.

5. The first month of the new recycling system has shown a significant (3 fold) increase in the volume in recycling collected from the kerbside in NPDC (Figure 4). While the final waste volumes to landfill are still being confirmed, recycling (as a percentage of

Page 3 of 4 32

total waste collected) has increased from close to 20% in October 2014 to close to 50% of the waste stream during the first month of the new recycling system in NPDC. While the volume of recycling is expected to drop slightly as the new system beds in, this is an outstanding result for the new system and has exceeded our Waste Management and Minimisation Plan target of an increase of 20% from a 2010 baseline of 21%. Of this recycling, 150 tonnes was glass and 300 tonnes was mixed recyclables.

Recycling data from the other two councils was not available at the time this agenda item was completed.

600

400 Tonnes/month

200

0 October 2014 October 2015

Figure 4 Comparison of recycling collected at the kerbside for the month of October in 2014 and 2015

6. Contamination in the recycling collected from kerbside is being monitored by collection truck drivers as they complete their routes. Preliminary indications are that there is approximately 9% contamination coming through the Materials Recovery Facility from the whole region’s recycling collections. While this is a promising start, reducing contamination will be a focus going forward.

7. The Materials Recovery Facility processing area was commissioned in late September and was ready for the first collections of recycling to be sorted on 1 October. The office building, education room and the remainder of the site works are still in the late stages of completion.

Kimberley Hope Waste and Compliance Lead

Page 4 of 4 33

Agenda Memorandum

Date 19 November 2015

Memorandum to Chairperson and Members Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee

Subject: Report on general matters regarding waste management

Item: 6

Approved by: G K Bedford, Director-Environment Quality

B G Chamberlain, Chief Executive

Document: 1597104

Purpose The purpose of this memorandum is to introduce any verbal or written reports or commentary on general matters regarding waste management in Taranaki, other than the Taranaki Regional Solid Wastes Services contract.

Recommendation That the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee: 1. receives any reports on general matters regarding waste management in Taranaki.

Decision-making considerations Part 6 (Planning, decision-making and accountability) of the Local Government Act 2002 has been considered and documented in the preparation of this agenda item. The recommendations made in this item comply with the decision-making obligations of the Act. Financial considerations—LTP/Annual Plan This memorandum and the associated recommendations are consistent with the Council’s adopted Long-Term Council Community Plan and estimates. Any financial information included in this memorandum has been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice. Policy considerations This memorandum and the associated recommendations are consistent with the policy documents and positions adopted by this Council under various legislative frameworks including, but not restricted to, the Local Government Act 2002, the Resource Management Act 1991, the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.

Legal considerations This memorandum and the associated recommendations comply with the appropriate statutory requirements imposed upon the Council.

Agenda Memorandum

Date 19 November 2015

Memorandum to Chairperson and Members Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee

Subject: Presentation – Fonterra eco-efficiency programme and product stewardship schemes

Item: 7

Approved by: G K Bedford, Director—Environment Quality

B G Chamberlain, Chief Executive

Document: 1590411

Purpose The purpose of this memorandum is to introduce Mr Nic Bishop, Environmental Manager for Fonterra Brands (New Zealand) Limited.

Mr Bishop has been invited to present to the Committee on Fonterra’s eco-efficiency programme and product stewardship schemes.

Recommendation That the Taranaki Solid Waste Management Committee: 1. receives the presentation by Mr Nic Bishop, Environmental Manager, Fonterra Brands (New Zealand) Limited.

Policy considerations This memorandum and the associated recommendations are consistent with the policy documents and positions adopted by this Council under various legislative frameworks including, but not restricted to, the Local Government Act 2002, the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. Legal considerations This memorandum and the associated recommendations comply with the appropriate statutory requirements imposed upon the Council.