About household sustainability
Frequently asked questions
What should I do with hazardous/toxic wastes?
How do I know when the HazMobile will be in my area?
Where is the air pollution worst?
- ARC can't measure everywhere, but results show that air is worst near congested roadways; it is generally good in residential areas, however sometimes residential areas can exceed for pollutants such as fine particulate especially on a cold winter day.
- The ARC has a network of monitors in the region (13 in total). Four of these represent typical residential sites (Mt Eden, Henderson, Takapuna and Pakuranga). At two of these sites we have measured exceedences for fine particulate. Because the Council cannot monitor absolutely everywhere we use these 4 sites as examples of what the air will be like in any urban suburb, you could call them "indicator sites".
Is our air really worse than London's?
- Yes for some pollutants. For example we are recording carbon monoxide (CO) levels that are higher than London; for other pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) we are about the same; for others such as particulate and ozone we aren't as bad.
What should I do if I see water pollution occurring?
- Call the Auckland Regional Council Pollution Control Team immediately on 09 377 3107 (24 hrs).
How do I know if there are invasive weeds in my garden?
- Learn about plant pests in Auckland.
What are the names of some native plants I could put in my garden?
- There are many native plants that are easy to plant and easy to look after. Karaka, kowhai, flax, kahikatea, pigeonwood, tanekaha, titoki are just some that will encourage birds to your garden and help create green patches around the Auckland region. Learn more about riparian management.
What is mulching?
- Mulch is simply a blanket of material that you can spread around your plants and gardens. Mulch is made of organic material (grass clippings, bark chips etc) or inorganic material (stones, plastic etc).
- Mulch can prevent weed growth and maintain an even soil temperature. Organic mulch also improves the soil by decomposing and spreading the organic waste in to the soil.
- Mulch stops the soil from drying out which means you don't have to water your garden as often - saving you time and money.
- Some of the best mulching materials include grass clippings, leaves and newspaper.
How do I find out about public transport?
How do I find out about Regional Parks?
How can I become a volunteer?
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