Waste management
New Zealand generates almost 2.5 million tonnes of waste each year that is buried in landfill sites. Waste disposed of in this way is an inefficient use of resources, as much of the waste could have been separated and reused, recycled or turned into compost.
Recyclable waste
Bottles and cans to be sorted and recycled. Much of the waste disposed of in landfills could have been separated and reused, recycled or turned into compost.
Waste management seeks to create a sustainable system where the amount of waste is reduced and the waste that is generated is better managed and efficiently reused or recycled.
Types of waste
We are most familiar with household waste – the rubbish generated from daily life, like food scraps, garden waste, packaging and waste paper. Unless rubbish is separated into different categories for recycling (paper, tins and cans, plastics and glass), waste is put into landfill. Landfill is simply burying all the waste in a large hole in the ground.
Household waste
A truck dumping waste at the resource depot. Unless rubbish is separated into different categories for recycling (paper, plastics and glass), waste is put into landfill – simply burying all the waste in a large hole in the ground.
Organic rubbish
Organic matter, such as garden waste (leaves and twigs) and food scraps make up the largest part of the rubbish dumped in our landfill. When buried in the landfill, the organic matter gradually rots away in the absence of oxygen, producing methane gas, a potentially explosive gas that is also harmful to the environment. A toxic liquid (leachate) is also produced, which can contaminate waterways. However, if organic material is kept separate from household rubbish, it biodegrades into something useful – compost. Composting can be done at home, in a traditional compost heap or in a worm farm, to produce fertiliser for gardens. Organic waste can also be recycled at refuse stations and can then be sold as fertiliser.
Domestic compost system
The conditions in domestic composting systems are more variable than industrial facilities.
Waste from businesses
Businesses and manufacturers produce a huge amount of waste. This can be in the form of solid waste, or industrial effluents, which are disposed of into waterways or the sewerage system. Changes in business practices can greatly reduce the amount of waste generated and make the job of disposing of it more efficient.
The construction industry also generates waste, with large amounts of timber, concrete, plaster and plastic. People are trying to find ways to reprocess and re-use this waste rather than putting it into landfill.
Electronic waste
The rapid expansion of technology and the consumption-driven society has led to increasingly large amounts of electronic waste or e-waste. E-waste, such as TVs, mobile phones and computers, are often made of materials that can harm people and the environment if not disposed of correctly. Ideally, we should take used electronics for refurbishment, reuse, resale or to salvage recycling.
In the article The environmental footprint of electric versus fossil cars there is a section on recycling electric car parts.
Getting rid of e-waste
In New Zealand many councils run e-waste collections days and organisations such as the Sustainability Trust accept sorted e-waste. Newer landfills often have special sections for e-waste disposal.
Illegal dumping
It is also important to make waste disposal and recycling options easily accessible and attractive, to avoid problems with illegal dumping of waste. Illegal dumping often contains hazardous waste, which poses a threat to health and the environment.
Illegal dumping
A pile of rubbish illegally tipped by the road side. It’s important to make waste disposal and recycling options easily accessible and attractive, to avoid problems with illegal dumping of waste, which often contains hazardous waste.
Related content
These resources support students in levels 1–4 with learning about waste and recycling.
Material World – Recycling and biodegradability curates the wide range of Hub resources on the issue of waste, landfills and more.
In the Connected article Down the drain – see how students in Petone, Lower Hutt, took action to prevent rubbish from entering their local marine environment.
Composting resources
In Participatory science and composting – CAPOW read about two primary schools in Taranaki who worked with a local scientist to trial the best way to process organic waste on their school sites. This article explores the life found in soils. Did you know that the rate at which biological material degrades is dependent on conditions such as light, water and temperature and the types of microorganisms present, as well as the type of substance, find out more about measuring biodegradability.
Use this activity with your students and set up an experiment to determine the biodegradability of different substances.
Useful links
The Waste Management Institute of New Zealand promotes sustainable waste management.
Reclaim is New Zealand's largest privately owned processor of recyclable materials, there is a range of information and resources on their website.
RecycleKiwi can help schools, businesses and organisations to improve their recycling efforts with interesting and fun educational resources.
See the waste section on the Ministry for the Environment website.
