This survey is an opportunity for you to contribute to our Waste and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

In 2019, 94 per cent of waste emissions were biogenic methane – largely generated by the decomposition of organic waste (such as, food, garden, wood and paper waste). While waste contributes a small percentage of our total emissions, biogenic methane has a warming effect 28 times greater than carbon dioxide. Taking steps to reduce, recycle and recover greater volumes of organic waste – and improve services and infrastructure – will also create opportunities. These steps will support the shift to a circular economy, create new employment and business opportunities, improve the ability to dispose of waste responsibly, and generate cost savings for households and businesses.

In Aotearoa New Zealand in 2021, an average of 700 kilograms of waste per person was sent to landfill. That makes us one of the highest generators of waste per person in the OECD. Taking natural resources, making them into something, using it and then disposing of it is referred to as a ‘linear economy’. A ‘circular economy’ is a system where extracted materials are used and reused for as long as possible. The ideal scenario is that synthetic materials are reused forever, and organic materials are eventually returned to the soil to enrich it. In a true circular economy, there is no waste.

The questions that follow reflect the focus areas of both the Emission Reduction Plan and the National Adaptation Plan.
A: Emissions
To reduce waste emissions, we need to focus on organic waste. This includes anything that contains degradable organic carbon – for example, materials like food and garden waste, paper, cardboard and timber. The ERP has four focus areas:
Focus area 1: Enable households and businesses to reduce organic waste

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* 1. In your view, what might this look like for the Waimate District – and what is the best way to implement it?

Focus area 2: Increase the amount of organic waste diverted from landfill

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* 2. In your view, what might this look like for the Waimate District – and what is the best way to implement it?

Focus area 3: Reduce and divert construction and demolition waste to beneficial uses

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* 3. In your view, what might this look like for the Waimate District – and what is the best way to implement it?

Focus area 4: Explore bans or limits to divert more organic waste from landfill

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* 4. In your view, what might this look like for the Waimate District – and what is the best way to implement it?

Focus area 5: Increase the capture of gas from landfills

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* 5. In your view, what might this look like for the Waimate District – and what is the best way to implement it?

B: Circular Economy – reduce, rethink, redesign
Moving to a more circular economy will reduce emissions and lead to many other benefits. Moving to a circular economy with a thriving bioeconomy is essential to meeting our emissions budgets and our 2050 targets. In addition to helping us reduce emissions, it will create new opportunities (including new jobs such as in resource recovery, bioproducts and design), drive innovation, reduce the amount of waste we produce, and can result in cost savings for households and businesses. This transition will require us to change the way that we think about – and use – resources.

A more circular economy in action can include:

· Greater use of the sharing economy, such as car sharing and tool sheds
· Digital services, such as online conferences, which provide alternatives to physical products and reduce the need for travel.
· Designing waste out of food production systems and reusing or composting food surplus
· Durable insulated homes which require less repair and less heating

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* 6. In your view, what might this look like for the Waimate District – and what is the best way to implement it?

Did we miss anything?

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* 7. Further thoughts/comments and ideas on Waste and the Circular Economy?

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