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Northland Waste’s Warkworth manager Flash Morrison dwarfed by the bones of the new 770-square metre sorting shed.
Construction is well underway on the $3 million waste transfer, recycling and sorting centre being developed by Northland Waste off 183 Sandspit Road, Warkworth.
Weather permitting, the 770-square metre sorting shed, weighbridge, recycling and storage buildings and landscaping should be finished by July or August, according to managing director Ray Lambert.
The 3.6-hectare site will be better screened than had originally been planned in its resource consent application, the result of negotiations with neighbours who appealed when consent was first granted in 2019. Large, landscaped bunds are now being placed along the access road to the quarry next door, as well as along the southern boundary of the site.
“The net result of Environment Court process was the site will have less impact in the long term. It will be well screened. The changes were constructive,” Mr Lambert said. “It’s more expensive, but I think it was worthwhile and beneficial.”
He went so far as to say that he thought there may even be less effects than there were in the past, when the site was occupied by Wyatt Haulage & Landscape Supplies.
Once construction and landscaping are complete, the transfer station will be up and running and open to the public straightaway – a change from the original plan, which was a two-stage development over several years.
“Once it’s finished and we have met all the conditions, then we’ll be open to the public,” Mr Lambert said. “We’re already getting a lot of enquiries from people who can’t get rid of their waste locally, a lot of trade customers.”
The site will be able to deal with up to 30,000 tonnes of domestic, commercial and industrial waste, cleanfill material, green waste and recyclable material, as well as household quantities of hazardous wastes accepted for special handling, storage and disposal.
Mr Lambert said that to encourage recycling and diversion from landfill, Northland Waste was looking at charging different rates for different materials, and less for recyclables. He added that the metalled access road leading off Sandspit Road and down to the quarry entrance was due to be sealed in the next two months.
