The Waste Management Group provides disposal facilities for the disposal of refuse balanced with the provision of recycling and other waste minimisation facilities to minimise the risk to the environment and public health. Council does not provide refuse collection services, these are undertaken by the private sector. This activity contributes significantly to present and future environmental and economic well-being of the district.

Activity: Waste management   

Council’s vision is for the Far North to waste nothing of value, the amount of waste generated in the Far North is kept to a minimum, so that the maximum value is realised from our renewable resources.

The refuse and recycling services contribute to the vision by providing the facilities and opportunities to enable the communities in the district to dispose of their waste in a way that minimises the harmful environmental effects, and maximises the opportunities for recycling.

Council is involved in refuse and recycling because effective management is necessary to protect public health and the environment.

Key facts 

Council operates and maintains:

• 14 refuse transfer stations. 
• Landfills at Ahipara and Russell. 
• Resource Recovery Centre at Kaitaia. 
• 6 community Recycling Stations. 

Council also:

• Provides recycling access through 3 Moloks.

Our major achievements in 2012/13 

Highlights of our progress during 2012/13 include:

• Residents have reduced household waste from about 300kg per head of population to 268kg in the last 12 months.
• A new recycling station near Okaihau is further evidence of the Council’s commitment to reducing waste going to landfill down to the target of 200kg per person each year.
• The Council and Transpacific Industries have established a community recycling station on a former rubbish dump on Waiare Road between State Highway 1 and Wehirua Road. 
• Investigating options using a gasifier for the district. The gasifier would burn wood waste and by torrifying wood create a product with the calorific value of a high grade coal. This product is seen as a sustainable environmentally friendly fuel source.

Challenges we experienced 

• The seasonal recycling/refuse site at TeUenga was shifted to TeHuruhi Bay.
• New recycling stations were developed at Totara North and Okaihau.
• Upgrades for recycling at Whangaroa, Herekino and Russell were completed. 

Plans for the next 12 months 

Maintenance and Renewal

• Continuing to work towards meeting long-term waste disposal needs by exploring alternative options to landfill for waste disposal while aiming for a goal of zero waste to landfill.
• Increase waste recycling by improving access to recycling services across the district.
• Continuing to encourage environmental awareness and waste minimisation through education programmes in schools.