Business Waste Minimisation Consultant Pilot
Helping Reach Reduction Targets
Kāpiti Coast District Council is committed to supporting a prosperous local economy and restoring and enhancing our natural environment as we transition to a low-carbon future.
The Business Waste Minimisation consultant pilot trialled an accessible service that provided expert resources, tools, and practical guidance for shortlisted business owners to deliver best-practice waste minimisation and management systems to minimise litter, pollution, landfill tonnage and carbon emissions.
The pilot aligned with local action 7 in the regionally adopted Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) 2023-2029: "Work with local businesses to investigate, consider, trial and implement initiatives that achieve waste reduction. Support and develop Pakihi Toitū o Kāpiti – Sustainable Business Network Kāpiti – including Business Waste Consultancy".
Funding for the programme comes from the waste levy applied to rubbish disposed of at landfill, managed by the Ministry for the Environment. Territorial Authorities have discretion to apply the funding received to initiatives most likely to result in measurable waste minimisation in-region and included in their WMMP local action plans.
In the words of renowned author Kim Stanley Robinson "There is no planet B”. This is why businesses are rising to the challenge of adapting existing, and crafting new models that place sustainable and zero-waste operations at their heart. This pilot will inform how the Kāpiti region sustainable business champions can combine their purpose with doing right by the planet and the customers they serve.
Careoline Michael, director of Organic Wealth one of the pilot consultants supporting Anam Cara Gardens and Elemental Cider
Kāpiti Coast District Council is grateful to the pilot business and consultants who gave time, energy, and expertise to the first consults. Council officers are assessing how the pilot can inform a second stage expansion and to ensure the maximum impact and value is delivered. Wellington-region Councils have set themselves a target to work with 30% of businesses to minimise waste and implement waste minimisation activities by 2029.
Development of this pilot is one way in which Council hopes to engage businesses, provide access to relevant, timely, expert and actionable information to support their waste minimisation journeys.
Local business participants in the pilot came from diverse sectors and included Moana Construction, Elemental Cider, Kāpiti Party Hire and Anam Cara Gardens.
“It was great having access to expert consultants who could look at our business from a different lens than us. The recommendations we received around what we could implement to reduce our waste were actionable and provided us a plan to make changes as a business.”
“We would highly recommend any business partnering with the waste minimisation pilot as it allowed us to access valuable resources and learn new things.”
Kāpiti Party Hire Co-owner Amber Ferguson
Find out more about future funding for the Business Waste Minimisation consultant program contact Teresa Grigg via email [email protected].
“We would highly recommend any business partnering with the waste minimisation pilot as it allowed us to access valuable resources and learn new things.”
– Kāpiti Party Hire Co-owner Amber Ferguson