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Key challenges and issues

Industry has a part to play - how can my council best work with key commercial players?

Many councils engage the commercial sector in some way to carry out waste management operations. There is a continuum of contractor involvement, from councils who carry out 100 percent of their waste management operations and do not engage contractors, to councils who contract out 100 percent of their waste management operations. Also, commercial players are often operating with no interaction with councils (unless licensing by-laws are in place).

This can mean there are many stakeholders involved in the waste management process, which can lead to a situation where council staff are uncertain about:

  • their responsibilities and mandate in overseeing waste operations
  • how best to manage stakeholder relationships.

How can I get key players to work towards my Council's waste management targets?

Many councils engage contractors to fulfil some aspect of their waste management operations. It is critical that you can communicate and manage your relationship with key players to ensure you are able to maintain control and meet responsibilities.

In particular, work alongside contractors and align their philosophies and actions with the waste management targets of your council.

Examples

Hamilton City Council

In reviewing its Waste Management Plan, Hamilton City Council decided to form an industry working group to assist with the review of the Waste Management Plan. Using the expertise and knowledge of those involved in service delivery has helped to deliver robust and realistic results.

For more information contact Tegan McIntyre at Hamilton City Council.

Rodney District Council

The Rodney District Council's Solid Waste Management Strategy 1999 applied the 'generator pays' philosophy to all aspects of solid waste management. As a result of these policies, virtually all waste management functions within Rodney District, including refuse collection and disposal, are now performed by private enterprise.

Until 2003, the Council performed primarily a regulatory function, requiring licenses for all private operators working in the waste field. Waste operators are, as a licensing requirement, required to report regularly to the council on quantities of waste handled.

There is a positive relationship between the council and the waste service providers. This relationship is viewed by some service providers as the key means of building and sustaining a shared pride in, and focus on the services supplied to the residents of Rodney District.

By encouraging a cooperative working relationship with the council, it is felt by the service providers that they will develop a better understanding of each others' needs, collectively working towards the protection of the environment by demonstrating environmental due diligence.

The service providers are supportive of Rodney District Council's Zero Waste to Landfill by 2020 plan and realise that it is important to manage waste in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Waste service providers in Rodney have initiated good waste reduction practise by carrying out resource recovery at their transfer stations. They are also keen on getting involved or being a part of the 50 zero waste initiatives listed in the Zero Waste Plan of the council.

For more information, read the Rodney District Council's Zero Waste to Landfill by 2020 plan, or contact Parul Sood at Rodney District Council.

I feel as if my Council is losing control of the waste stream - we can't access any data!

Many councils say they feel they are losing control of the waste stream, where it is difficult to have access to waste data from commercial waste operators. Commercial players may be concerned that if councils use commercial data they may report commercially sensitive information.

The value of baseline waste data can't be underestimated. It is essential for decision-making and for monitoring, review and reporting of waste objectives and targets.

There are ways you can improve your access to the waste data from commercial waste operators:

Work collaboratively with team players

Some councils are working on ways to develop positive relationships with waste collectors and operators.

Examples

Tauranga City Council

Tauranga City kerbside recycling is provided by two competing companies on a user pays basis. Council has no contractual relationship with either company for this activity. Under the Tauranga City Council by-laws all operators who wish to pick up rubbish or recyclables from the street are licensed. The Council has some control on service levels, but cannot force the companies to provide data on the number of properties each is servicing or the quantities being picked up. Both companies made submissions to the plan and fully support the zero waste target and are supplying the council with data verbally on a confidential basis as each doesn't want the information disclosed to their competitor. The Council own the compost site and the transfer stations so information on these activities is not problematic.

For more information contact John Palmer at the Tauranga City Council.

Rodney District Council

There are eight licensed waste service providers operating in Rodney District, plus several operators about to be licensed. Some of the licensed operators provide a single service, such as residential bin collection, others are fully integrated operations, collecting residential bags and bins, servicing commercial skips and bins, and operating transfer stations and landfills.

The council and waste providers have a positive relationship. This relationship is viewed by some service providers as the key means of building and sustaining a shared pride in, and focus on the services supplied to the residents of Rodney District.

By encouraging a cooperative working relationship with the Council, service providers feel that they will develop a better understanding of each other's needs, collectively working towards protecting the environment through environmental due diligence.

The service providers support Rodney District Council's Zero Waste to Landfill by 2020 plan and realise it is important to manage waste sustainably. Waste service providers in Rodney have initiated good waste reduction practise by carrying out resource recovery at their transfer stations. They are also keen on being a part of the 50 zero waste initiatives listed in the Zero Waste Plan.

Contact Parul Sood at Rodney District Council.

Report on a regional basis

A benefit of a regional waste management approach is that monitoring and reporting of the waste management process is undertaken regionally. Reporting on a regional basis provides the ability to benchmark performance and gives access to information that would otherwise be withheld due to commercial sensitivity concerns. It would be difficult to attribute sensitive information to any one commercial player as there would be many involved across one region, as opposed to one or two per district or city.

Examples:

Waste data network project

The Ministry for the Environment is working with the Bay of Plenty District Council and Environment Waikato on the Waste Data Network project. We are looking for ways councils can report back waste data without compromising sensitive commercial information. For more information on this project contact wastedata@mfe.govt.nz.

Waste Exchange

The 'Waste Exchange' in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty is funded largely on a regional base with contributions from territorial authorities. For more information, see Environment Waikato's waste strategy.

 

Last updated: 5 July 2007