Waste Management and Minimisation Plan Te Mahere Whakataaharahara Para

Our waste is increasing and the impacts of how we manage this will continue to grow unless we do something about it now. Our 2023 Waste Assessment estimates the amount of waste we send to landfill has increased by 28.5% since 2017.

If we don’t take immediate action, the amount of waste will continue to increase as the population grows. We have developed a plan to help all Hamiltonians to work towards reducing waste to landfill – whether they are at home, work, school, or play. With Council only managing 13% of all Hamilton’s waste, fighting the landfill will require a commitment from all of us.

Our plan and supporting waste assessment tells the story of how far we have come in understanding and actively fighting the landfill, where we are now, and the challenges we face both locally and nationally. It guides Council in the direction we want to go and how attitudes towards waste needs to change to help us achieve our vision.

Unless we take action to minimise our waste, our planet dies. Kei too mai te manawa tahi ki a para kore ka mate te manawa o Taoio.

View our Waste Management and Minimisation Plan Te Mahere Whakataaharahara Para 2024-2030 here.

Our vision

Hamilton Kirikiriroa is leading the way towards a low-waste city.

What do we need to focus on to reach our vision:

further reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfill
ongoing efforts to reduce construction and demolition waste
support a move to a circular economy (where products are used over and over again)
recover more from waste streams
adapt to changing lifestyles and ways to living
shape national direction on waste and resource recovery
regulatory and council management.

How we will deliver on our vision

Outcome one

Low-waste solutions are easy, and we are using them.

Mama te whakatika me te whakatutuki i te ara whakaitinga pare kore.

Outcome two

By working together, we are sending less to landfill.

Maa te mahinga tahi ka iti iho te unga ki ngaa ruapara.

Outcome three

Our economy keeps resources in use for as long as possible.

Ko te oohanga ka puumau I ngaa rauemi moo te waa roa.

Who is involved?

The strategy was created through a collaboration of Council's Elected Members and key staff from a variety of areas, including Sustainable Resource Recovery and Climate Action. Other key stakeholders included iwi, industry, Waikato Regional Council and other organisations dedicated to fighting the landfill.