Council adopted the Solid Waste Management Strategy in 2000 as the framework for managing the district’s solid waste over the following 20 years. This strategy meets the waste reduction targets of the national waste strategy launched in 2002.
Gisborne’s strategy aims to:
- increase education
- recognise waste as a resource and implement the 5Rs of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and finally Residue disposal.
- upgrade facilities and systems
- promote cleaner production at home, work and elsewhere target zero waste.
Systems are in place, as a “zero waste council”, to:
- minimise waste to landfill
- encourage the reuse and recycling of resources formerly thrown away as 'rubbish'.
Organic wastes are a by-product of both the production and the processing of forestry, agricultural and horticultural crops and the home garden. Organic wastes include agricultural manures, bark, waste crop or crop by-product, prunings, grass clippings and organic waste from pack-houses and processing facilities.
New Zealand’s niche marketing of its primary products relies on being able to sell its wares as products of a clean-green land.
It is an economic imperative as well as an environmental requirement that organic wastes be disposed of in a sustainable manner and without being a nuisance or health risk.
Positive effects
Applying organic waste to land can:
- act directly as fertiliser or indirectly by increasing soil’s organic carbon content
- improve the aggregate structure of the soil
- lead to a higher retention capacity for nutrients and pesticides
- be cheaper than land-filling or composting
- become a stock food
Negative effects
Applying organic waste to land can:
- produce dust and odour
- attract vermin or flies and become a potential health risk
- cause offensive particulate, liquids or mists
- result in run-off and leaching to waterways
- alter soil health by changing its pH environment and by adding compounds that can be considered contaminants
- increase nitrate levels in groundwater due to a rapid mineralisation and subsequent leaching of organic nitrogen
- generate methane
- become a fire risk.
When applying organic waste to land, consider:
- type of waste
- application rate
- soil type
- soil and climatic conditions
- location in relation to drains, waterways and neighbours.
Disposal of organic waste to land, or farm composting does not require a discharge permit under the Gisborne Regional Discharges Plan providing:
- the waste is bark, agricultural manures or storage in stockpiles, or organic waste generated on that property
- offensive odour or dust is not discernible beyond the property boundary
- the material does not attract or provide a home for vermin – rodents, flies, cats and birds
- the material is contained to ensure it is not able to enter any water body or coastal marine area
- its storage in stockpiles does not result in leaching or run-off
- the material does not cause any diversion of overland flows of stormwater or floodwater on to other property
- the material is not deposited in any area of significant indigenous vegetation or significant indigenous habitat, or heritage site
- the quantity of discharge does not result in more than 200 kg/ha of nitrogen being added to the land annually.
Disposal to land of the same waste processed into compost does not require a discharge permit under the Gisborne Regional Discharges Plan. The material must have a stable organic-matter content to be considered compost.
Compost is considered a fertiliser. Its application should be in accordance with the Fertiliser Code of Practice (New Zealand Fertiliser Manufacturers Research Association, 1998).
If composted waste still does not meet the criteria of a compost, it must be treated as organic waste discharged to land.
The same conditions apply when the organic waste is applied to land as a stock-feed.
The manufacture of compost off-site requires resource consent.
In cases where you are unsure whether or not criteria are being met, or you wish to obtain a deviation from the criteria, you may require resource consent.
Information outlining what is needed to obtain resource consent is available from
Environmental Health, phone 06 867 2049.
Council contractor Transpacific AllBrite collects recycling and rubbish on the same day. Check your collection day.
Place your bag and bin on the kerbside near the road before 7am on the morning of collection. Please remember your stickers.
| Monday |
Outer Kaiti, Wainui, Makorori |
| Tuesday |
Inner Kaiti, Whataupoko |
| Wednesday |
City Centre, Te Hapara |
| Thursday |
Mangapapa |
| Friday |
Poverty Bay Flats |
Recyclables go into the council-provided black recycling bin.
Rubbish goes into your own bag with the correct stickers.
Composting, worm farming and shredding of green waste is encouraged.
The collection service and stickers are paid for out of the Uniform Annual Charge (UAC) part of your rates or your landlord’s rates.
Ratepayers are sent 13 stickers with their rates invoice. This is one sticker per week. Rubbish stickers are valid until the end of the contract 30 June 2014.
- 1 sticker for up to 5kg bag
- 2 stickers for up to 10kg bag
- 3 stickers for up to 15kg bag
- 4 stickers for up to 20kg bag (maximum weight for one bag)
You can use plastic or paper bags, or bags inside a rubbish bin. Make sure you secure the bag and have the right number of stickers.
You can dispose of rubbish bags before your collection day by taking them, with the correct stickers, to Transpacific AllBrites depot during their opening hours.
If you need more stickers you can buy them from Council, most dairies, service stations and supermarkets. These stickers will be different to the council-issued stickers.
The recycling collection takes:
- all paper, cardboard and milk cartons
- plastic bottles and other clean food containers and bags (not polystyrene)
- glass bottles and jars
- aluminium and tin cans.
If two bins are used please put:
- glass in one bin
- plastic and metals in the other
- paper and cardboard (maximum 5kg)in a paper or plastic bag on top of or beside the bin.
Only one bin of glass will be collected.
Extra glass and other recyclables should be taken to the drop-off centre at Transpacific AllBrite depot at 69 Innes Street.
If one bin is used, please put:
- glass, plastic and metals together
- paper and cardboard (max 5kg)in paper or plastic bag on top of or beside the bin.
Note: Everything must be clean, caps removed and flattened. Unacceptable items will be left in your bin.
If you are moving, please do the decent thing and leave the property’s stickers and recycling bin behind. The next occupant will need them.
Each household can put out 2 recycling bins, if needed.
Extra recycling bins (you are allowed up to two bins) are available from Council and AllBrites at $15 each.
If you move to your rental property and there is no recycling bin, contact your landlord or agent.
If through subdivision you have a new house, you can pick up a bin from Council.
Waste exchange
The Waste Exchange helps businesses connect their unwanted materials and recyclables with new owners through a web-based, freephone forum. It supports the reduce, re-use and recycle philosophy.
Businesses can:
- find alternatives to landfilling unwanted materials
- save on disposal costs
- support community groups and schools by registering re-usable materials.
Everyone can:
- access re-usable materials
- access information about local recyclers and regional recycling services
- reduce the volume of rubbish going to landfill.
For more information visit www.nothrow.co.nz or call 0800 NOTHROW (0800 668 4769).
Second-Hand Sunday
When is it held?
Between 9am and 12 noon on designated Sundays.
How does it work?
- Identify and collect items you no longer want (no food or dangerous goods like chemicals, faulty electrical equipment, firearms or rubbish)
- Register by phoning Council on 867 2049 ext 8635.
- Identify a site at the property boundary, such as the driveway or next to the letterbox, where items to be given away are to be placed.
- On Sunday between 9am and midday:
- display the sign on your letterbox so people know you have items to give away
- place items to be given away in your selected area
- once items have all gone put a note on your box saying “Sorry, all gone”.
- keep an eye on what is happening
- remove the sign by 12 noon and pack up anything left over.
NOTE: You are responsible for any items not taken away. (If left outside your property you are in breach of bylaws related to dumping.)
- Rural residents can park their ute or trailer at the Army Hall carpark in Fitzherbert St between 9am and midday on the same day. Items are to be left in the vehicles and removed if they do not get taken.
- Collect items between the advertised hours at households where the Second-Hand Sunday sign is displayed. Do not enter people’s properties. Check safety of any appliances.
Who is taking part?
A list of registered properties will be made available here, and:
- at Council administration centre (Friday before event)
- at the library (Friday before event)
- in The Gisborne Herald (Saturday before event).
What about leftover materials?
Put them away for the next Second-Hand Sunday or consider other outlets. Consider the 5Rs of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and lastly Residual waste to landfill. We encourage queries and/comments about the event by phoning Council.
Disclaimer: By participating in the Second-Hand Sunday activities you agree to abide by the terms and conditions set out above and that the Gisborne District Council has no liability to any person for any loss of or damage to goods or for injury to or death of persons whether arising from negligence or otherwise and in anyway caused by or connected with the Second-Hand Sunday activities.
Kitchen and garden waste
Council is currently offering subsidies for each district household to dispose of their organic waste by chipping, shredding and composting. The idea is to re-use waste on your property rather than sending it to the landfill.
How do I get the subsidy?
Write your name and address on the top sticker of the new rubbish stickers and give it all to the retailer or service provider.
Offer is limited strictly to one per household. To find out more, contact a supplier or Council on 867 2049.
Participating Suppliers:
Chipping of Garden Prunings ($20 subsidy)
Roberts Tree Surgeons, ph 868 6463
Wired Earth Tree Services, ph 863 0570
Hire a Chipper ($20 subsidy)
Martins Hire Centre
Gisborne Hire Centre
Compost Bins or Wormbins ($10 subsidy)
The Warehouse
Mitre 10
Hammer Hardware
Bokashi Scraping Buckets $33 ($20 if redeeming top rubbish sticker - as per promotion)
Gisborne District Council
The Transpacific Allbrite Resource Recovery Centre is located at 69 Innes St, Gisborne.
Phone 06 868 5797
Recycling
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
All other waste
Monday-Friday: 7.30am-5.30pm
Saturday: 8am-4pm
Sunday and public holidays: 9.30am-3.30pm
Matawai
Wednesday, Saturday: 2-4pm
Sunday: 2-5pm
Te Araroa
Tuesday, Saturday: 10am to 12 noon
Thursday: 9-10am and 3-5pm
Sunday: 11am-4pm
Te Karaka
Wednesday: 1-2pm
Saturday: 1-4pm
Te Puia
Monday, Wednesday, Saturday: 9am to 12 noon
Sunday: 12 noon to 3pm
Tikitiki
Wednesday: 3-5pm
Saturday: 10am to 12 noon
Sunday: 1-4pm
Tokomaru Bay
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 10am to 12 noon
Sunday: 2-5pm
Tolaga Bay
Tuesday: 7-10am
Thursday: 10am to 1pm
Saturday, Sunday: 1-4pm
Waiapu Landfill
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 1-4pm
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 9am to 1pm
Sunday: 12 noon to 4pm
Whatatutu
Thursday: 1-2pm
Sunday: 1-5pm