A new strategy, due to be adopted later this month, sets out how to reduce 700,000 tonnes of waste going to the region's landfills each year and turn the remainder into a valuable resource.
Developed in partnership with industry, local territorial authorities, the community, Ministry for the Environment, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Auckland Council, the strategy sets out a series of initiatives, actions, responsibilities and timeframes.
The Draft Waikato Waste and Resource Efficiency Strategy 2012 moved a step closer when it was endorsed by Waikato Regional Council's policy and strategy committee.
Council waste minimisation facilitator Marianna Tyler says information on quantities and types of product going to landfill is limited. The strategy aims to address that, so further commercial opportunities for the region can be identified.
"There are wasted resources currently going to landfill that could potentially be turned into millions of dollars of high-value product. We know, for example, that over 125,000 tonnes of organic waste currently going to landfill could instead be composted or turned into valuable feedstock.