1.2 Purpose of this waste assessment - Waikato District Council

surveys at least three months apart to allow for seasonal variation – although it could be argued this would bemore accurately measured if surveys were required to be five - six months apart.The users of SWAP surveys, and UEFs, are required to re-establish the composition of each waste source at 10yearly intervals.DFOs that reduce their methane emissions to the atmosphere by flaring or through energy production carryout a net methane calculation. Once again, these DFOs need to apply for a UEF. DFOs are required tocalculate their own efficiency rate of methane collection and destruction. These calculations must incorporatean assumption that 10 per cent of methane in a capped landfill is oxidised to CO2 before being emitted to theatmosphere (although the TAG report notes that DFOs could apply to calculate their own unique oxidationfactor).A.2.4.6NZ Waste Strategy targetsThe revised NZWS was released in October 2010. The new strategy adopts two of the three overarchinggoals from the previous (2002) NZWS. These are:1. Reducing the harmful effects of waste2. Improving the efficiency of resource useThe NZWS 2010 is a departure from the previous strategy in that it has moved away from an overarchingobjective of zero waste, and that it does not present any specific targets for waste minimisation.The intent of the 2010 strategy is to enable a more flexible approach to waste management and encouragedevelopment of locally-appropriate targets and solutions, and to efficiently allocate waste management andminimisation effort and resources.A.2.5Changes in lifestyles and consumptionHousehold waste growth is not just a New Zealand phenomenon. In 1997 OECD countries produced 540million tonnes of MSW annually (approximately 500kg per person). Waste grew at an average annual rate of1.8 per cent between 1980 and 1985, 3.6 per cent between 1985 and 1990, and 1 per cent between 1990 and1997 23 . A report by the OECD 24 noted the following driving forces behind current and projected householdconsumption patterns:1. Rising per capita income2. Demographics (more working women, more single person households, larger retirement population)3. Accompanying changes in lifestyles leading to individualised buying patterns4. Shift towards more processed and packaged products5. Higher levels of appliance ownership6. Wider use of services and recreation7. Technology8. Institutions and infrastructure that create the prevailing conditions faced by householders23 Towards Sustainable Household Consumption? Trends and Policies in OECD Countries, OECD 2002, p 5324 Ibid, p12.Waikato District Council waste assessment 201159