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Landfill Charges and Hours

Disposal charges (at 1 July 2009)

Location

Off Atiamuri highway (SH30), 1.6km from the Waipa junction

  - click on the image for a map

Hours 

Disposal charges (at 1 July 2009) 

• A $2.50 surcharge applies to cash payments. No surcharge applies to Eftpos payments. (eftpos available at landfill only - not transfer stations)  
• The Rotorua District Council reserves the right to weigh any vehicle in and out of the landfill and charge per tonne of refuse when appropriate (including domestic single axle and tandem trailers).
• Landfill Coupons are sold at the Rotorua District Council Customer Centre (located at the RDC Civic Centre, Haupapa St), and at some Rotorua Petrol Stations.
• The above prices are inclusive of the Ministry for the Environment's Waste Levy and GST

What exactly is a landfill?

A landfill is a specially designed facility for the burial of municipal solid waste. They are designed in such a way that leachates cannot leak down through the soil into the water table. This is accomplished by a layer of clay-like soil at the bottom of the landfill. The next layer up is a synthetic lining, usually made of plastic. All remaining layers alternate between soil and refuse.

How much of our refuse is disposed of in landfills?

Approximately 70% of our refuse goes to the landfill, while 30% is recycled.

“Integrated” solid waste management?

This is an approach that includes a combination of waste prevention, waste reduction, and disposal techniques to effectively manage the problem of municipal solid waste.

By reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting waste materials, less materials will appear in the waste stream destined for landfills or incinerators.

What types of materials are put in landfills?

Municipal solid waste landfills are filled with everything we throw away, from glass bottles to grass clippings and other yard wastes.

What are the three main problems or environment concerns associated with landfills?

Methane Gas, leachate, and loose waste are the three main challenges for landfills today. Methane gas is produced in a landfill by anaerobic decomposition. It can be collected using current technology and then used to generate electricity, or it can be purified and used as a power-generating fuel. Leachate is a thick liquid that forms when garbage decomposes. Loose waste attracts disease carrying vermin of all types, and it can fly away in the breeze.

Are there products in my house that should not be sent to a landfill?

Many of the products we use in our homes are considered hazardous materials. A hazardous material is one that is toxic or will corrode metal, burn, or explode. Materials like oven cleaner, batteries, motor oil, paints, varnishes, thinners, fluorescent bulbs, mercury switches etc, should not be sent to the landfills. Rotorua residents can dispose of hazardous waste free of charge at the landfill.

What can be done to reduce the amount of refuse in landfills?

Landfilling is a major component to integrated waste management. No matter what technologies are available, we can all help by reducing the amount of waste that we generate. This can be done in a variety of ways:

• Use the Recycling Drop Off Centre on Te Ngae Road.
• Compost yard and organic wastes. Use them as nutrients for other plants.
• Mulch leaves and grass clippings.
• Buy recycled paper products and products with less packaging.
• Buy durable products rather than disposable ones.
• Reuse jars and containers.
• Recycle oil and old tyres.

Use of landfill gas

Rotorua District Council intends to utilise the energy in the landfill gass evaporating the leachate generated. This will reduce load on the wastewater treatment plant where leachate is currently treated.