Waikato and Bay of Plenty region waste and recycling stocktake 2021

Report: TR 2022/11

Authors: Lisa Eve, Ella van Gool, and Duncan Wilson (Eunomia), Bruce Middleton (Waste Not Consulting), Sunshine Yates (Sunshine Yates Consulting)

Waikato Regional Council (WRC) and Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) have a history of collaboration and information sharing. Following joint waste stocktakes undertaken in 2007 and 2013 , the two councils commissioned a new regional waste stocktake in 2021.

The objective of this waste stocktake is to provide a comprehensive picture of waste management in the regions, including a snapshot of the current situation, highlight key gaps and opportunities and inform waste prevention work. To achieve this, the report provides:

• key drivers that influence waste and diverted materials
• an overview of territorial authority (TA) Waste Assessments and WMMPs
• an overview of waste and recovery services and facilities in the two regions
• the quantity and composition of waste to landfill and diverted materials
• carbon emissions from Class 1 landfills waste projections for the next 10 years
• an evaluation of waste data - including gaps and barriers.

In addition to providing an update on waste and recycling generated and disposed of in the regions, WRC has requested further data analysis to support the Waikato Wellbeing project. The Waikato Wellbeing project has a goal of a 50 per cent reduction of waste to landfill by 2030 (from a 2017 baseline). The stocktake assists this project to create an action plan through understanding waste flows and estimated waste projections over the next ten years.