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The Solid Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2020

The Solid Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw came into effect on 25 January 2021 and provides a new approach to managing Wellington’s waste.

The population of Wellington city is expected to grow by 50,000 to 80,000 over the next 30 years, so we need better ways to manage and reduce our waste in preparation for that.

The bylaw will mean some changes to the way we do things. But it will help reduce the city’s carbon footprint over time – and benefit all Wellingtonians.

Bylaw and Controls

Solid Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2020

This bylaw replaces Part 9 (Waste Management) of the Wellington City Council Consolidated Bylaw 2008.

Solid Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2020

Controls for the Solid Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2020

In accordance with the bylaw, additional controls apply in relation to solid waste management, collection and disposal and the use of the Southern Landfill.

Controls for the Solid Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2020

What the bylaw means for Wellington residents

Kerbside collections

The new bylaw has made some changes to kerbside collections.

Bringing household rubbish to the Southern Landfill

There have been some changes to how and what you can bring to the landfill.

Distributing and receiving junk mail

We’ve introduced some restrictions to help reduce and manage the waste, litter and public nuisance junk mail can cause.

Other changes

The bylaw also introduces other changes, including:

  • new controls to manage waste and kerbside collection
  • restrictions around unaddressed and advertising mail
  • a new suite of standards that will affect waste and recycling collectors
  • the establishment of waste operator licensing by February 2023 (applicable to waste collectors who transport more than 20 tonnes of waste per year)
  • new event waste management planning requirements for large outdoor events (over 1000 people), and indoor events (over 5000 people) to be introduced in January 2022
  • standards to better manage littering and the inappropriate deposit/discarding of waste

We’ll work closely with everyone involved to ensure a smooth transition of the implementation of these new standards.

Contact us

Got a question? Email Waste Operations: wasteoperations@wcc.govt.nz

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