Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2026

WasteNet Southland is seeking feedback on the direction and priorities proposed in our Draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP).

We want to know if we have got it right and if you support the shared vision for how waste will be minimised and managed in the Southland region over the next six years.

Background

A WMMP is a long-term plan that sets out how councils will reduce waste, as well as setting out how they plan to manage the waste that cannot be avoided. Every council in Aotearoa New Zealand is required by law to have a WMMP and to review it at least every six years. In Southland, the WMMP is jointly prepared for the three WasteNet Southland Councils, being Gore District Council, Invercargill City Council, and Southland District Council.

WasteNet Southland has reviewed the Southland regional WMMP and is proposing some changes, with the WMMP covering the period of 2026 – 2032.

What’s in the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan

Every year, large amounts of waste generated in Southland ends up in landfill. WasteNet Southland began the WMMP review process with a Waste Assessment, confirming what is actually in our rubbish bins and going into landfill currently. This information gave us direction for the areas we need to focus on, as well as current gaps in our systems.

Since the previous plan was adopted in 2020, there have been significant changes to the waste industry, including changes to national waste and climate policy. Some communities in our region have also rolled out new waste services, which impacts the overall waste management picture in our region. WasteNet Southland has also received clear directives from local iwi, key stakeholders, and the wider community about how the WMMP and waste management could be improved in our region.

The Draft WMMP is guided by the Waste Hierarchy

The hierarchy has helped us to define a list of 6 priorities to focus on:

• Improving access to appropriate waste and infrastructure services
• Managing waste materials in line with the waste hierarchy, where practical
• Continuing to improve household waste and recycling services
• Strengthening regulation, data and understanding of waste flows
• Supporting community-led and not for profit waste minimisation initiatives
• Working collaboratively and advocating for national action

You can read the draft WMMP, which includes a Draft Action Plan here, as well as WasteNet Southlands' Statement of Proposal.Our Frequently Asked Questions provide an overview of the content of the plan, including a list of waste materials we are planning to focus on, what success looks like for our region, and how the plan impacts our community.

Submissions close at 5.00 pm on 23rd April 2026. You can submit via the form below, or drop your submission to any of the Gore District Council, Invercargill City Council, or Southland District Council Service Centres or Libraries. We are not asking for feedback on every technical detail of the plan; instead, we want to know from our community whether the overall approach is right for Southland.