Ruapehu petition urges zero waste ambitions

Business owner Dawn Harallambi from Eat Takeaway Diner in Ohakune

A petition encouraging Ruapehu District Council to consider a zero waste vision by 2040 is gaining strong support from residents, businesses and visitors alike.

The ten-year Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2018-2028 is out for community consultation and Liz Brooker is one of many hoping council will consider changing it to a more defined, performance-driven model.

"Opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle shouldn't be the exclusive privilege of people living in big cities, in a way you would think with only 14 thousand people living here it should be even easier to achieve a dream of zero waste?

"It's been exciting to meet so many people who want to do more and totally support this kaupapa but we all need to do our part, earlier than 2040 would be even better but, if Auckland can do it by then surely we can.

"If it's what we want we all need to e tū and send in submissions."

Over the last month Brooker has been watching council contactors Envirowaste pick up recycling from the end of her driveway.

Last week, bar three beer bottles, two of three full bins were just dumped in the rubbish.

"A zero waste vision for the Ruapehu means we all have to do our part and it's gutting to see Envirowaste spending a month throwing clean, valid recycling into our landfill, it's just not good enough.

"By not carrying out such a basic part of their contract, we as ratepayers are now going to be paying for it twice.

"Firstly to have it recycled but because they are dumping it straight into our landfill it's filling up quicker than it should and then we're going to be paying a premium to ship it out of the region and dump it somewhere else."

Currently the the plan says coucnil is aiming to "minimise waste to landfill" but Brooker doesn't believe this vision is enough of a positive step forward to help address the global issue.

"Why, when council had the award winning Wai Group explore the best options for our waste water, don't we have a similar model for waste management?

"If it's about cost, council invest hundreds of thousands [of dollars] a year encouraging tourists to visit our National Parks, why can't they spend more to help protect our stunning natural environment.

"Whether a key stakeholder, resident, club, school, or business we all need to stand up now and let them know what we think by 29 May."

Anyone wanting to support the call for a zero waste Ruapehu by 2040 can sign hard copies of the petition at Eat, TCB and Barefoot Beauty in Ohakune, the Nancy Winter Early Childcare Centre in Raetihi, the Macrocapa Café in National Park along with Kai Nui, REAP and Off the Rails in Taumarunui.

The link to a digital change.org version of the petition can be found online at the Ruapehu Zero Waste Facebook page.