Councils' waste bill hits $629m as NZ misses economic, emissions opportunities – report

Councils' waste costs have soared since 2019. (Image: NZME)

Thu, 12 Jun 2025

Local council spending on waste reached $629 million in 2023, up from $443m in 2019, with 60% of the funding coming from rates, according to a new report.The New Zealand Institute for Economic Research (NZIER) report, commissioned by WasteMinz, states that improved waste and resource recovery could save the country hundreds of millions of dollars annually.Approximately 40% of waste sent to landfills could be diverted, recycled or composted, resulting in $223m in avoidable disposal costs in 2024 alone.Food waste accounts for a significant portio...

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