1.2 Purpose of this waste assessment - Waikato District Council

8.0 Statement of thecouncil’s intended role8.1 Statutory obligationsCouncils have a number of statutory obligations in respect of the planning and provision of waste services.These include the following:• Under the WMA the council “must promote effective and efficient waste management and minimisationwithin its district” (s 42).• The WMA also requires territorial authorities (TAs) to develop and adopt a Waste Management andMinimisation Plan (WMMP) 15• The WMA also requires TAs to have regard to the New Zealand Waste Strategy. The NZ Waste Strategyhas two high levels goals: ‘Reducing the harmful effects of waste’ and ‘improving the efficiency of resourceuse’. These goals must be taken into consideration in the development of the council’s waste strategy• Under the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA) the council must consult the public about its plans formanaging waste• Under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), TA responsibility includes controlling the effects ofland-use activities that have the potential to create adverse effects on the natural and physical resources oftheir district. Facilities involved in the disposal, treatment or use of waste or recoverable materials may carrythis potential. Permitted, controlled, discretionary, non-complying and prohibited activities and their controlsare specified within district planning documents, thereby defining further land-use-related resource consentrequirements for waste-related facilities.• Under the Litter Act 1979 TAs have powers to make bylaws, issue infringement notices, and require theclean-up of litter from land.• The Health Act 1956. Health Act provisions for the removal of refuse by local authorities have beenrepealed by local government legislation. The Public Health Bill is currently progressing through Parliament.It is a major legislative reform reviewing and updating the Health Act 1956, but it contains similar provisionsfor sanitary services to those currently contained in the Health Act 1956.• The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (the HSNO Act). The HSNO Act providesminimum national standards that may apply to the disposal of a hazardous substance. However, under theRMA a regional council or TA may set more stringent controls relating to the use of land for storing, using,disposing of or transporting hazardous substances.The council, in determining its role, needs to ensure that its statutory obligations, including those noted above,are met.8.2 Overall strategic direction and roleFeedback from councillor and stakeholder workshops indicates that there is general support among thecommunity and council to continue with a zero waste philosophy, supported by realistic and achievable goalsand targets.A key part of a zero waste approach is to consider the role of waste in the wider economy – in other words toconsider issues of resource efficiency and viewing waste as a resource, rather than as an issue to be ‘managed’.15 The development of a WMMP in the WMA is a requirement modified from Part 31 of the LGA 1974, but witheven greater emphasis on waste minimisation.Waikato District Council waste assessment 201145