15-year resource consent secured for Maruia landfill, signalling changes

The Maruia Landfill and Recycling Centre has obtained resource consent renewal for the next 15 years, backdated to August 2023.

The conditions of the new resource consent require council to implement some operational changes regarding the disposal of waste at the facility.

• Surface water monitoring is now required to be undertaken quarterly (instead of biannually). This covers a complete set of water quality parameters, with five samples taken each monitoring period. This is to allow better understanding of the possible adverse effects from the landfill on the surrounding environment.
• The maximum volume of material disposed must not exceed 230 cubic metres per year (this is equivalent to about 30 tonnes of refuse).
• Monthly inspections of the waste disposed of in the landfill must be carried out. Items that are not able to be accepted under the consent are to be removed.
• Only refuse and general household and commercial waste is to be accepted.

Changes affecting users

From 1 February, the types of waste accepted at the Maruia Landfill are as follows:

• General refuse (e.g., soft plastics, ashes, compostable materials, plastic bags, packaging with multiple components, toys, clothes and other unrecyclable items).
  
  
• Treated and untreated timber.
  
  
• General household furniture.
  
  
• Green waste and food scraps/organic waste (although we recommend composting at home).

Types of waste no longer accepted:

• Mixed construction and demolition waste including rubble, plasterboard, concrete, tile products, asphalt, bricks and insulation materials.
  
  
• Site clearance and excavation material (hardfill).
  
  
• Tyres and car bodies.
  
  
• Fridges and general whiteware.
  
  
• Electronic waste (e-waste).

The following items also remain unacceptable:

• Hazardous waste, e.g., medical waste, asbestos, chemicals and solvents, agrichemical containers, gas bottles and batteries.
  
  
• Special waste (e.g., sludges or biosolids).
  
  
• Aerosol cans.

How to dispose of items that are not accepted:

Electronic waste, fridges and freezers, scrap metal, small batteries and agrichemical containers are received at the Reefton Transfer Station free of charge.

Mixed construction and demolition waste, tyres, car bodies, whiteware (washing machines, dryers etc.) gas bottles, large batteries, excavation material and aerosols are received at the Reefton Transfer Station with associated charges.

Materials accepted for recycling

• Clear and coloured plastics #1, #2 and #5, including plastic #1 meat trays, rinsed clean and any lids removed. Containers must be smaller than 4L in volume.
  
  
• Clean, flattened paper and cardboard, free of food residue. Clean pizza boxes are now accepted. Individual items must be larger than an envelope.
  
  
• Steel and aluminium tins and cans, rinsed clean.
  
  
• Glass bottles and jars, rinsed clean and sorted by colour: clear, brown and green.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
Manager Infrastructure Delivery
Eric de Boer
[email protected]