Event Waste Management and Minimisation Plan Application 2023

New Plymouth District Council is committed to creating a Zero Waste district. Zero Waste is about rethinking how we use and consume resources to reduce our impact on the environment and avoid waste as much as possible. Events can create a lot of waste so it is important to plan how to manage this. 

If you are planning a public event in the district, it is a mandatory to have a waste minimisation plan. If you are using NPDC reserve land or an NPDC facility, a venue hire agreement must also be arranged before submitting this application. Please Contact us (npdc.govt.nz) if you need help.

Funding is available to cover the cost of divertible waste (e.g., mixed recycling, compostable waste, glass, cardboard, clear/ clean pallet wrap). The event organiser is responsible for the cost of all waste sent to landfill.  More details about funding eligibility are in the next section.  

A Waste Minimisation Officer will be in touch following submission of your application to discuss your plan and provide more information on supplies and resources available to support you.

50% Diversion Rate:

• Applicants seeking funding for the disposal of divertible waste must achieve a 50% waste diversion rate at the event. This means that at least 50% of your event’s total waste must be recycled or sent for composting. Our waste contractor will inspect and weigh each bin following your event and we will calculate the diversion rate.  Note: Diversion rate = total weight of divertible waste divided by total weight of event waste (including landfill) x 100. 
• If the target of 50% diversion is not achieved, the event organiser will be responsible for the cost of all waste streams including mixed recycling, compostable waste, glass, cardboard, clear soft plastic plus any general landfill waste.

Contamination:

• If a bin contains too much contamination, it will be sent to landfill and the organiser will be responsible for this cost. Contamination is when non-recyclable material ends up in the recycling/ glass bins or when non-compostable material ends up in the compostable bin. Having volunteers stationed at the bin stations to help direct patrons can prevent contamination from occurring.   

Accountability Report: 

• The event organiser must complete an accountability report following completion of the event to record any learnings or recommendations for future events. A link to the accountability report will be sent to the event organiser following the event. Eligibility for future event waste management funding will be conditional on the completion of an accountability report.

Bond Payment

• NPDC will provide you with supplies to make your ‘zero waste stations’.  We provide wheelie bin lids and wraps that show what can be placed in each bin. We can also provide hi-vis vests, gloves, and bin liners. 
• All loaned equipment must be returned to NPDC within 5 working days of an event. All equipment must be returned CLEAN. Failure to return the equipment will result in a bond of $100 being invoiced to event organisers. If the equipment is returned dirty, a $100 cleaning will be invoiced.  

Invoicing

• Invoices will be sent to the event organiser following completion of the event, based on the diversion rate. The event organiser will always be responsible for the cost of landfill waste. 

Post-event Clean-up

• It is the event organiser’s responsibility to ensure the grounds and/or venue are left litter free.