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2 Identifying the Wellington waste catchment

The Wellington region was identified by MfE as being suitable for investigating the concept of monitoring waste catchments. The primary factor for its suitability is the topography of the region. The Wellington catchment, encompassing Wellington City, Upper and Lower Hutt, Porirua City, and the Kapiti Coast, is bounded by the sea on two sides and isolated from surrounding districts by the Rimutaka Range. A single highway connects the catchment to the Wairarapa district. The coastal margin on the northern end of the Kapiti Coast, which connects it to the Horowhenua District, is relatively lightly populated.

The map below outlines what was assumed to be the Wellington waste catchment. The map shows the waste disposal facilities in the adjoining Wairarapa and Horowhenua districts. It can be seen from the map that for there to be any waste “leakage” to or from the Wairarapa district, it would need to be transported across the steep and rugged Rimutaka Ranges. Given the distribution of disposal facilities in the Wairarapa and the travel time across the Rimutakas, it was considered unlikely that significant quantities of waste move between the areas. Waste “leakage” in or out of the catchment in the coastal margin between Otaki and Levin was considered likely, but given the low population and industrial base in the area, the quantities involved were not considered likely to be significant in comparison to the overall waste flows within the catchment.

lower North Island

The Wellington waste catchment and adjoining district waste disposal facilities

The figure displays a map of the lower North Island and indicates the Wellington waste catchment extending to Otaki on State Highway 1 and to the Rimutaka Ranges on State Highway 2. It shows disposal facilities in the adjoining Wairarapa and Horowhenua districts.


A more detailed map of the Wellington waste catchment is shown below, with all of the waste disposal facilities shown. The population in the region, due to the topography, is clustered into urban areas focused on Wellington, Porirua, the Kapiti Coast, and the Hutt Valley. Landfills are situated in close proximity to each of these areas. Northern landfill was closed in February 2006.

lower North Island

Waste disposal facilities of the Wellington waste catchment

The figure displays a more detailed map of the Wellington waste catchment. It identifies the names and locations of landfills and transfer stations within the catchment boundary.

 

As well as being geographically and demographically suitable for being treated as a waste catchment, a high degree of cooperation from the management of the landfills was considered to be likely. All of the landfills within the catchment are owned by the local territorial authorities.

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