West Coast Organic Waste Collection & Processing Feasibility Study

In July 2024, the Buller, Grey, and Westland District Councils conducted a region-wide food and green waste survey to gauge how West Coasters currently dealing with food and green waste, and their preferences for collecting it in urban centres.

In May 2023, central government developed a policy requiring all district and city councils to offer food and green waste collection for urban areas with over 1,000 residents by 2030. For the West Coast, this affects Westport, Reefton, Greymouth and Hokitika.

The three councils received funding from the Ministry for the Environment and Development West Coast to carry out the study and determine what might be possible in terms of both collection and processing of food and green waste on the West Coast.

While the study was in progress, central government reversed the requirement to collect organic waste from populations greater than 1000 residents, removing the mandate that brought about this work.

The study concludes that an approach combining community education around food waste reduction with a council/community partnership presents the best model for further development. This would draw on the strengths of both parties, while providing small-scale food waste collection and processing for the wider community without heavily impacting rates.

Read the full results of the survey here.