FAQs

We have a goal of reducing the amount of waste going into landfill by a 50% by 2030. Waste is a big contributor to our carbon footprint, and this strategy will also help us as we work towards becoming a net zero carbon capital by 2050. 

The draft Zero Waste Strategy has been developed by Wellington City Council to help us change the way we create and manage waste, in a bid to reduce it. This draft strategy also ties into our vision for Wellington 2040 – which is for the city to be an inclusive, sustainable, and creative capital for people to live, work and play. 

It is a document that sets out what we plan to do to achieve all that, and how. 

• We need to take urgent action to minimise our carbon and ecological footprint

• We need to collectively change our mindset from take-make-use-dispose to a circular one which treats resources as precious materials

• The draft strategy will guide how we manage our waste in a more sustainable way, and all Wellingtonians will have a part to play

• It includes a review and redesign of rubbish and recycling collections

• It also guides the creation of local hubs to enable resource reuse, repair, recycling or upcycling

• The draft strategy lays the challenge to all Wellingtonians to treat landfill capacity as a finite resource, only letting waste which cannot be reused or recycled be disposed of.

To do this – we need to change the system from managing waste to preventing waste. We’re planning to radically change how we do waste in Wellington, advocating a shift from a throwaway economy to a circular economy. A circular economy means keeping resources in use for as long as possible and regenerating them when they reach their end of life.

We have a huge programme of work underway to help us meet these goals.

The Zero Waste International Alliance defines zero waste as: “The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”

These are the outcomes we’re working towards:

1: Wellington moves towards a circular economy

We are taking the lead to design waste out, empowering businesses, organisations and communities to avoid unnecessary resource use. This involves intervention at the earliest point in the waste lifecycle – encouraging the redesign of systems and products in businesses and at the Council so waste is not created in the first place.

2: The community is equipped to reduce waste

It is convenient for residents, businesses and consumers to recycle their waste. The networks, services and infrastructure are in place to enable residents, consumers and businesses to sort their waste for reuse, recycling, and composting, making waste minimisation the default mindset of everyone.

3: Resources are repurposed and regenerated in Wellington

We recover and process materials to regain value from resources. This will return value to the materials collected through the Council’s waste management services, minimising the reliance on virgin resources.

4: Landfill capacity is treated as a finite resource

To treat the waste infrastructure built today as a finite resource requires careful management of residual waste. We recognise that transition to a zero-waste city will take time, and that hazardous waste will continue to need to be manged in the long-term for the health and safety of our people and the environment

We have a huge programme of work planned and underway to help meet our targets.

More detail is in the draft strategy. 

The draft strategy will set the direction of the Council as it works toward reducing waste. Our intent is that you will have more options to divert your waste from landfill, either through our recycling centres, through composting initiatives either at your home or in the community, and through better product stewardship.

You can check out the proposed strategy on this page, and fill in a submission form, also found on this page. 

You can also email zerowaste@wcc.govt.nz

The Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2017-2023 (WRWMMP 2017-2023) is currently being reviewed, as is required by the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. 

The updated WRWMMP (2023-2029) will be a collaborative plan formed by the eight territorial authorities of the Wellington Region:

• Carterton District Council
• Hutt City Council
• Kāpiti Coast District Council
• Masterton District Council
• Porirua City Council
• South Wairarapa District Council
• Upper Hutt City Council
• Wellington City Council

The WRWMMP 2023-2029 will have a new regional vision, which is agreed across the region, and will include regional targets and actions. In addition, each council also creates their own Local Action Plan which is included within the wider WRWMMP.

The Priority Actions included within the draft Zero Waste Strategy, will, if supported through the consultation process, form the basis for the WCC Local Action Plan. Some may become Regional Actions, and this will be determined through the collaborative WRWMMMP development process with the other seven councils. 

The WRWMMP will be consulted on later in 2023, at this point the public will have an opportunity to make submissions on the WRWMMP, including the WCC Local Action Plan.

The Zero Waste Strategy has a longer-term view than the WRWMMP, and as such will guide the development of the 2023-29 Wellington City Council Local Action Plan and future ones.