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A sustainable council

Buildings | Transport | Waste | Communicating about sustainability

Waste

In-house recycling system

Paper recycling box. In 2002, our in-house recycling system was implemented following a comprehensive waste audit in 2001. Now most council facilities have a recycling system in place. This system includes:

  • glass, plastic, steel and aluminium recycling facilities in council buildings and on every floor of administration buildings
  • paper recycling facilities in council buildings and on every floor of administration buildings
  • desk-top and copier paper recycling boxes in administration buildings
  • education and signs about how to use the facilities correctly.

Since its introduction Auckland City Council has achieved:

  • a 50 per cent reduction in waste to landfill
  • increased recovery of re-useables from the waste stream
  • the diversion of several tonnes of food waste
  • a reduction in annual waste disposal costs by approximately $26,000
  • improved environment and safety for cleaning staff.
     

Food waste collection

Organic and food waste is collected from the council's kitchenettes and cafeterias for composting at UNITEC's vertical composting unit.

This is a great service as it diverts organic waste from landfill where it would otherwise be an environmental problem causing methane gas and leachate.

The council sometimes holds composting courses for staff to encourage composting systems at home.
 

Toner cartridge recycling

When the council's printers require new toner, the empty cartridges are placed in a collection box for the toner recycling company (TRC). They are then collected and recycled at no cost by TRC.

The council receives a financial reward for each cartridge recycled. Although only a few dollars are given for each one, over a year the fund can accumulate to a few thousand dollars.

In 2008, this fund was fittingly used for one of the World Environment Day events that Auckland City Council held.
 

Waste auditing

Council undertakes waste audits every few years to keep an eye on how our waste stream is changing and to figure out areas where we can improve.

The last waste audit was undertaken in 2007 and showed good results.

Published October 2008