Leading a regenerative, low-waste Marlborough where resources are valued, waste is minimised and communities actively protect and sustain the environment is Council’s vision for future waste management.
Waste Minimisation Coordinator Georgie Sullivan presented Council’s Waste Assessment 2026 at September’s Council meeting, outlining plans to provide a better outcome for present and future generations.
“Our targets for the next seven years include diverting organic waste from landfill, increasing recycling, reducing contamination in recycling and advocating for the use of reused and recycled products across Council operations,” she said.
The findings of the waste assessment are the basis and road map for the new Waste Management and Minimisation Plan. The assessment identified areas where current performance could be improved, as well as opportunities for new or enhanced solid waste initiatives delivering environmental, social, economic and cultural benefits.
The Dump Shop, located at the Recycling Centre on Wither Road, provides an opportunity for the public to donate reusable items which are sold, passed on to local charities and schools or distributed through the Unwanted Goods Project.
The Unwanted Goods Project provides a free service to the community, focusing on collecting, repurposing and redistributing unwanted household items. The Salvage Yard, located on the same site, accepts unwanted building materials and household items from the public and commercial sectors. Such operations have helped divert hundreds of tonnes of waste from landfill.
The introduction of wheelie bins in 2024 delivered significant environmental benefits, preventing more than 750,000 rubbish bags from landfill and increasing the amount of material being recycled.
