Recycling in Wellington's inner city: are there barriers to implementing recycling in serviced apartments?

Abstract

Internationally, there is recognition from central and local governments that the reduction of waste is a vital component for achieving environmental sustainability. It has also been recognised that there are barriers to achieving effective waste minimisation worldwide. In Wellington, New Zealand, the number of people living in serviced apartments in the inner city is increasing. This research identifies the trends occurring within these apartment developments. In particular, it examines how residents have responded to reducing waste in an area with no legislated incentives for recycling to take place. From these trends, barriers to recycling in this environment have been identified and are put into context with the international literature. This research argues that each apartment development needs more than one mechanism to encourage, minimise or remove a barrier to recycling. Effective policy involves individual waste management strategies to account for the differences in each development. The individual strategies also need to be structured within local Council and national policy objectives to provide a coherent multi-level response. Thus, resulting in effective recycling within serviced apartments in Wellington's inner city.