Waste and recycling
Auckland waste and recycling
968,000 tonnes of waste were disposed in the region's landfill sites between 2000 - 2002. Around 3.4 million tonnes continue to go to landfill every year, and this figure grows as fast as our population.
Landfills are no longer a cheap or appropriate way to dispose of our waste and the costs of running and maintaining them come from the pockets of Auckland ratepayers. It is in everyone's interest reduce waste, reuse goods and recycle materials.
About 65% of what goes into our landfills could be reused or recycled into usable materials for industry to use - it's not rubbish, it is wasted resources and economic opportunities!
As a region we have to change the way we think about our rubbish, and this means we have to change the way we think about what we buy and what we do with things when they are no longer useful to us.
What can I do to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Waste and recycling objectives
The key objectives are:
- to reduce waste - this links strongly with reducing consumer spending on "throw away" goods and packaging
- to increase the reuse of goods and the recycling of waste materials
- to minimise the environmental effects of waste management
- to decrease the amount of waste that needs disposal into landfills and through burning.
These objectives are aimed at our communities, business' and industries alike.
NZ Waste Strategy
The New Zealand Waste Strategy sets in place a framework for addressing how we can minimise and manage waste. Get a copy of the NZ Waste Strategy
Waste and recycling facts
Nationwide NZ disposes of:
- 500 billion litres of sewage to 250 treatment plants, generating up to one million tonnes of sludge
- 282,000 tonnes (treated) hazardous waste to landfill
- over 40% percent of all glass manufactured is recycled by the consumer.
Did you know? Making paper from waste instead of virgin pulp:
- reduces energy consumption by 40%
- reduces water use by 64%
- reduces air pollution by 74%
- reduces water pollution by 35%.
Did you know? It is estimated that it takes between 10 and 17 trees to produce 1 tonne of paper, enough for around 7000 copies of a national newspaper.
Did you know? To make 1kg of paper it takes:
Thank you for visiting the Auckland Regional Council website and giving us your feedback. We are seeking to improve the information and services available on our website in the near future and any feedback you can provide will help us greatly in this process.