Local Government Waste Policy Manifesto 2026

 Councils are on the frontline of New Zealand’s waste system. They plan, fund, procure and deliver essential waste management and minimisation services and infrastructure that keep communities clean and safe, support local economies, and reduce harm to the environment.

The Manifesto provides a clear, actionable platform for Government, supports advocacy at a local level, and focuses attention on a small number of realistic shifts that will deliver better value for money, reduce harm from waste, and protect community wellbeing by promoting local resilience. 

Local government wants a waste system that:

• Shifts cost and liability to where they belong – away from households and ratepayers, and onto producers for the products they place on the market and to the consumers who buy them.

• Protects people and the environment – reducing waste and associated emissions, and reducing harm from mismanaged waste, including contamination, litter and illegal dumping.

• Delivers affordable, reliable services – so households and businesses can do the right thing to minimise waste and increase recovery of resources without facing unaffordable costs.

• Respects and supports local government’s role – by recognising the diversity of rural, metropolitan and high-visitor contexts, acknowledging existing regional waste groupings, and treating councils as active partners in shaping policy, investment signals, and system design alongside industry and central government.