Rotorua District Council is looking to embed sustainability and sustainable thinking in all areas of its activity. We aim to lead by example in our community and ‘walk the talk’.
The decisions Council makes in executing many functions influence energy use in the community. This includes the wastewater system, all buildings, the landfill and recycling services. Council also has an important role in assisting with emission reductions by providing better choices for public transport, walking and cycling.
Council plays an important leadership role in the promotion of energy efficiency and conservation and greater uptake of renewable energy and clean heating options.
This set of pages outlines many of the Council’s current initiatives and projects.
What we're doing:
Some examples of what the Council is doing in terms of sustainable development are provided below.
RDC supports Sustainable Business Network Awards. Business Manager, Kerry Starling talking sustainability
Click on the image below to see the first of the ‘Spring messages’ from our sponsors, first up starring Kerry Starling from Rotorua District Council…if you can’t see the image, please click here.
Links to some interesting sustainability themed videos:
Rotorua e-waste collection first for nz
Rotorua District Council has become the first local authority in New Zealand to introduce a permanent environmentally friendly e-waste collection facility. The e-waste collection service started operating in early November from the city’s In-Town Recycling Centre on Te Ngae Rd.
It is being run in conjunction with Auckland based RCN Group and follows the company being awarded a $400,000 grant from the Ministry for the environment to establish a dedicated e-waste recycling solution. Residents can now safely disposal of televisions, computer and network equipment, printers, toners, fax machines, cellphones, laptop batteries and other electronic items every day of the year. A percentage of the computers collected will be rebuilt and given to charity, as part of the government’s conditions in granting funding to RCN Group.
Rotorua Biodiesel Consortium
The Rotorua District Council is keen to take actions to reduce its carbon footprint. To this end our operational business unit, Castlecorp, is working with other businesses and organizations in Rotorua to establish a Rotorua Biodiesel Consortium. Similar consortiums have been established in Queenstown and Marlborough. Another is being developed in Tauranga, which would provide an additional dispensing hub in the Bay of Plenty.
A working group has been established to represent businesses who registered an interest in being part of the Consortium. The working group’s ultimate goal is to formally establish the Consortium which will bulk purchase B20 biodiesel (i.e. a blend of 80% mineral diesel mixed with 20% biodiesel).
The Consortium’s success depends on its ability to purchase a B20 blend at a competitive price and this can only be achieved if the Consortium purchases a large quantity of diesel. We have determined that to achieve significant discount on retail prices the Consortium will need to purchase at least 2.5 million litres a year. To date the organizations that indicated interest in joining the Consortium use around 800,000 litres per year so we have some way to go.
If your organisation would be willing to consider joining us in the Rotorua Biodiesel Consortium and take a significant step in addressing your carbon footprint please contact Eldad Collins at.
Below are the answers to frequently asked questions which should provide some basic information.
Frequently Asked Biodiesel Questions
Why a consortium?
Biodiesel is not available at retail outlets (petrol stations) and even when it becomes available this will be limited in availability and will be limited to a B5 blend. A consortium allows the purchase of B20 which environmentally is more significant.
Can I use B20 biodiesel in my vehicle?
B20 is similar in properties to mineral diesel and can be used in most vehicles. For more information see the Biodiesel New Zealand guide to using biodiesel blends (a copy will be emailed to you on request) or contact Andrew Campbell from Fuel Technology Ltd:
Andrew Campbell
Fuel Technology Limited
Wellington
phone: 64 4 977 5795
mobile: 64 274 414 750
Email: acampbell@fueltechnology.net
Please ensure that if you contact Andrew you explain that you are considering joining the Rotorua Biodiesel Consortium.
How much is the B20 diesel likely to cost?
The cost will depend on how much biodiesel the Consortium purchases. As long as we purchase at least 2.5milion litres a year the cost will be significantly lower than retail. Ultimately we won’t know the cost until we get responses to tenders.
Where will the B20 diesel be available?
This is yet to be discussed by the Working Group and will ultimately be decided based on responses to tenders. The Marlborough Biodiesel Consortium has an arrangement where every member has a tank at their depot. The Queenstown Biodiesel Consortium has a centrally located above ground tank and dispensing system. There are many options and we need to decide which option is most suitable to our Consortium.
Who decides how the consortium is run?
A working group of volunteers from businesses and organizations who registered an interest in joining the Consortium. The members of the Working Group are: Kerry Starling (RDC), Justin Hutton (River Rats), Trevor Weir (Duck Tours), Harvey James (Waimangu Volcanic Valley), Bryan Hughs (Wai Ora Group) and Hendrik Metz (Fulton Hogan BOP Ltd). The Consortium administration is managed by Eldad Collins (Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter).