23 October 2025
Council is taking steps to future-proof waste management in Tairāwhiti, in response to the growing cost of waste disposal, community demand for better services, and our commitment to sustainability.
As part of the 2025–2027 Three-Year Plan, planned waste minimisation initiatives include improvements to kerbside and rural waste services, and the investigation of a Regional Transfer Station (RTS) and Resource Recovery Centre (RRC).
We want to ensure we’re building a long-term system that works for Tairāwhiti — one that reduces landfill waste, creates local jobs and education opportunities, and delivers better outcomes for our people and environment.
In 2024, an opportunity became available to purchase a potential site for a Regional Transfer Station (RTS) and Resource Recovery Centre (RRC). After initial scoping Council agreed in March 2025 to purchase 275 Lytton Road for $6.65 million (loan funded). The land was identified as a quality option for both an RTS and RRC due to its:
- Industrial zoning
- Existing 7,000m² buildings suitable for retrofitting
- Long-term capital and operational savings
- Strategic location with reduced emissions and improved accessibility
The purchase was made to enable further feasibility investigation and engagement without the pressure of a private sale. The site remains tenanted, with lease income covering operational and loan costs.
Local infrastructure investment is essential to reach targets for reductions. We are currently trucking most of our waste to Tirohia landfill, increasing both emissions and costs.
Our region is currently paying $513 per tonne for waste disposal — up from $362 in 2020 and forecast to rise to $689 by 2033. By comparison, other regions pay between $220 and $430 per tonne.
At the same time, Tairāwhiti’s recycling and re-use rate is only 12–13%, well below the national range of 20–45%.
The RTS and RRC are a core part of the wider strategy that also includes:
- Funding application to the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund
- Continued investigation into ownership and operational models, including with private and regional partners
- Upgrades to rural transfer stations in Ruatōria, Tolaga Bay, and Te Karaka (Stage 2)
- Exploring further satellite or community recovery hubs based on further engagement through the Waste Minimisation Management Plan (Stage 3)
- Planning for closure and aftercare of the Waiapu landfill in Ruatoria, in partnership with iwi and hapū (currently underway).
We currently don’t have a confirmed timeline, but Lytton Road or any other site will not be confirmed until investigations are complete and brought back for discussion with Councillors in the new year.