| Reducing Rubbish |
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Each year there is an estimated total of 20,000 tonnes of waste generated in the Matamata-Piako District. This is enough rubbish to fill 80 swimming pools, or an area the size of a rugby field, 18 metres high. The Waste Minimisation Act came into force in 2008; one of the main purposes of this act is to impose a levy on all waste sent to landfills, this generates funding to help local government, communities and businesses reduce the amount of waste produced. All waste sent to landfills now incurs a $10 per tonne levy. Half the money generated by the levy will go to Council to improve waste minimisation infrastructure and services in the community. The other half of the funding will be put into a contestable fund administered by the Ministry for the Environment for waste minimisation initiatives. Council is only eligible to apply for this funding once a Waste Minimisation Strategy is in place and we can demonstrate action towards its implementation. Council has formed a waste minimisation working party to develop an action plan outlining how we intend to minimise waste. We asked for your ideas through our long-term plan consultation earlier this year, Council is now working with key stakeholders to develop an action plan using these ideas on how we are going to achieve our targets to minimise waste. Once Council has completed a draft action plan we will be asking for your feedback on what we have come up with so keep an eye out early 2010 and make sure you tell us what you think. Remember that there are lots of things you can do at home to help reduce waste including:
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