Latest news with #WasteLevyFund
Otago Daily Times
11-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Council joins battery recycling scheme
Clutha District Council waste education officer Scott Martin. PHOTO: SUPPLIED. South Otago officials say their council will be only the second in the country to implement a convenient battery drop-off recycling scheme. Clutha District Council expects the first battery drops to be available at libraries and other community facilities next month, as it joins the Phoenix Recycling Group's programme. Although Phoenix already provides the fire-safe receptacles at home improvement stores around the country, Wellington City Council is the only council to have joined the scheme to date. Clutha District Council waste education officer Scott Martin said batteries were a problematic waste issue for councils, due to toxicity and fire risks. The Phoenix scheme had been quality-checked and was able to take all batteries — including vapes — meaning no battery need enter landfill in the district in future. "Batteries present a real hazard in our waste stream. The mixing of batteries in general waste has a high risk of fire from the kerbside to landfill, as they get exposed to liquids and punctured," Mr Martin said. "Once in landfill, they can contribute to toxic leachate from heavy metals into the environment, so not only preventing those risks, but also ensuring as much of the waste is recycled and brought back into use is a win-win for Clutha." Mr Martin said the move was part of a wider council programme eventually to eliminate all unnecessary landfill locally. He said Phoenix had been chosen as its processes had been independently audited. At present, no New Zealand-based battery recyclers existed. Phoenix sent batteries to Japan and South Korea for processing. "Materials are recovered for future battery use, under strict environmental and social controls." He said the receptacles could take most medium and small batteries in typical domestic use, including lead and lithium-based units. Larger batteries such as vehicle batteries could be dropped at the council's Mt Cooee recovery centre in Balclutha. The project had no impact on rates, Mr Martin said. "The council is always aware of the impact of any project on rates. The battery recycling is paid for from the government's Waste Levy Fund." Council community and facility operations manager Kelly Gay said the project was about removing barriers to recycling. "We want to make it easy for people, and to dispel the myth that recycling simply 'all goes in the same hole'."
Scoop
28-04-2025
- General
- Scoop
Waste-busting Idea? Stratford District Council's Ready With Funds!
It's time for individuals, community organisations, and not-for-profits to put on their thinking caps (recycled, of course). Through their $25,000 annual Waste Levy Fund, Stratford District Council has financial support available for new projects that can measurably avoid, reduce, recycle, recover, or reuse waste in the Stratford district. Applications are open now and close on 25 May 2025. 'The Waste Levy Fund opened in 2023, and since then we've helped some great community waste reduction projects get off the ground,' says Peter McNamara, SDC Waste & Water Education Officer. 'From composting systems and kai gardens for local kura, to a mobile recycling station for Whangamōmona events; it's clear we've got a resourceful community out there who really cares about tackling waste.' Funding's available for projects both big and small, as long as the total amount required doesn't exceed the $25,000 in the fund. Successful projects could include activities, equipment and infrastructure that diverts or reuses waste from landfill, as well as research, education and behaviour change programmes. But Peter encourages people to be innovative, too. 'The application criteria's pretty open, because we know making a real dent in the volume of resources and waste going into landfill will take lots of different people and organisations thinking creatively – I know I probably won't have all the good ideas myself,' laughs Peter. The Waste Levy Fund was created using money allocated to SDC through the Government's national waste disposal levy. The national levy raises funds for waste minimisation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Information about the fund, eligibility criteria, and how to apply, can be found at
