Council is progressing with transporting landfill waste to Omarunui in Hawke’s Bay as a short-term solution to Wairoa’s landfill capacity issues.

The first load left town in April, with more than 700 tonnes of waste having now been transported.

The temporary waste disposal alternative was secured following Wairoa’s Fraser Street landfill being overwhelmed with flood-impacted debris and silt following Cyclone Gabrielle and the June 2024 flooding.

While there is still limited capacity at the local landfill cell, that is being reserved as a backup in case of another emergency.

Wairoa District Council Chief Executive Matt Lawson said switching to transporting waste out of town has been a big change, with the past few months treated as a trial to ensure the process is as efficient as possible.

Phoenix Contracting have the contract to transport the waste, which began using hook bins and has been replaced with a walking trailer with a hydraulic floor. Currently, waste is being transported from the landfill three times a week.

Preparation for the transport of waste and the temporary transport costs have been funded by central government while further long-term waste management planning is undertaken.

Mr Lawson said Council is grateful for the funding support which is helping to solve Wairoa’s immediate capacity issues. On-site work to prepare the site for waste transportation included the installation of a second weighbridge, a loadout platform, and the reconfiguration of access and roading at the landfill site to enable trucks to transport waste from the site.

The project also included the purchase of a shredder, which will mean waste can be shredded to take up less room and create efficiencies when transported out of town. The shredder has been trialled with a range of waste types, including green waste, which can now be processed into mulch on site, creating financial savings.

Mr Lawson said while it is early days, the trial is running well, and the process is becoming more streamlined. “An upside has been an increase in the recycling of waste, with items sorted and diverted rather than all going to landfill.”

Meanwhile, how Wairoa’s waste will be managed in the future is a significant focus. Mr Lawson said waste minimisation is key. “On average, and not including emergency events, our landfill cell receives approximately 3,500 tonnes of waste per year. By reducing the amount of waste the landfill cell receives, we will have less waste to manage and, therefore, less associated costs.

“Our future is all about living more sustainably. As a community, we need to focus on reducing, reusing, repairing and recycling, from both environmental and cost perspectives.”

Photo Caption: Landfill waste being loaded in Wairoa and transported to Omarunui in Hawke’s Bay.

31 August 2026

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