Improving waste data
This page provides information on our work to improve waste data.
This work establishes a waste data evidence base, providing comprehensive and internationally comparable waste data. It can be used to analyse, plan and make decisions to manage and minimise waste.
Improving data availability, accessibility and quality will also help us to understand behavioural changes over time and assist with monitoring compliance.
Delivered in December 2023, the first dashboards provide interactive waste data. We will refresh the dashboards with updated information on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis, dependant on when it is available.
Watch a video tour of the data
The waste data covers four main areas:
Waste disposal at registered facilities
This data comes mainly from waste operator reporting requirements under the waste disposal levy regulations. It includes information about waste and material disposed of or diverted by waste facilities. We update the data monthly in the facility and disposal dashboards for most facility types.
We report on waste and materials from municipal landfills (class 1), construction and demolition landfills (class 2), managed or controlled fill facilities (class 3 and 4), and transfer stations. The Ministry holds records from municipal landfills (class 1) dating back to 2009.
Since 2021, the scope of reporting required by the regulations has expanded. Construction and demolition landfills (class 2) and transfer stations were required to begin reporting in January 2022.
Managed or controlled fill facilities (class 3 and 4), cleanfills (class 5), and industrial monofils were required to begin reporting in January 2023.
Waste sector emissions
We source waste sector emissions data from Te Rārangi Haurehu Kati Mahana a Aotearoa, New Zealand's greenhouse gas inventory, 1990-2022. The inventory is published every April with a two-year lag. Data will be updated annually in line with inventory reporting. Chapter 7 of the inventory reports quantities of greenhouse gases emitted from all waste sources. For the solid waste category (5.A), the inventory provides estimates of the composition of waste sent to landfill in all facility classes.
Funding for waste initiatives
We source information about funding for waste initiatives from our waste investment funds that support waste minimisation projects. We will update this data around every quarter (variable by funding round).
Research on public attitudes toward waste and recycling
We regularly conduct research to understand and monitor general attitudes and behaviours relating to waste minimisation. This research informs our waste management policies and initiatives.
The Ministry has several workstreams to improve waste generation and disposal information and data.
The Government has approved changes to existing regulations that will improve the quality and availability of waste data and inform future waste reduction policies.
The following amendments regulations will take effect from 1 July 2024.
- Waste Minimisation (Information Requirements) Amendment Regulations 2023
- Waste Minimisation (Calculation and Payment of Waste Disposal Levy) Amendment Regulations 2023
Changes include:
- Reporting activity source for materials: Facility operators will need to report the source of the material they receive. This information will allow us to develop targeted waste reduction strategies. Categories include:
- Construction and demolition
- Mixed industrial, commercial and institutional
- Heavy industrial
- Residential drop-off
- Residential kerbside collections
- Unusual activity
- Transfer stations – mixed activities
- Revised volume-to-weight conversion factors for non-weighbridge sites:
- The regulations introduce updated conversion factors for facilities that don’t have weighbridges. The number of categories for waste types and diverted materials will also be expanded to improve the accuracy of waste quantity estimates.
- Territorial authorities’ reporting on waste, levy spending and waste minimisation activities:
- The regulations require territorial authorities to report on all waste managed under their regional services. This includes the types and quantities of waste collected and contamination levels in recyclable materials. This reporting is required for services outlined in each territorial authority’s waste management and minimisation plan. Territorial authorities must also report on how they spend the waste levy money they receive.
Learn more about:
If you have any questions, please email the National Waste Data Reporting team at info@mfe.govt.nz.