Sign In / Register
Waste Management NZ (WM) has launched a public consultation on what should happen to millions of tonnes of rubbish once its Redvale landfill at Dairy Flat has to stop receiving waste at the end of 2028.
The waste conglomerate had hoped Redvale’s replacement, its massive new regional landfill planned for 1000 hectares between Wayby and the Dome Valley, would be up and running by then, but numerous appeals against the proposal by iwi, community and environmental groups have still to be decided by the Environment Court.
WM chief executive Evan Maehl said if resource consent was finally granted, the new site might not be up and running until 2036, and Aucklanders would generate around four million tonnes of waste in the interim.
He said all of Auckland was responsible for finding a solution to this “waste hurdle”.
“Auckland’s waste is a shared problem, and the public’s feedback is essential in guiding our decision-making process. It will ensure we capture the needs and concerns of the wider community and make informed choices,” he said.
Independent analysis by environmental and engineering consultants Tonkin + Taylor found four possible solutions – adding capacity at existing landfills; creating another new landfill site; using new technologies; and minimising waste and recovering more.
The assessment found the most viable solution would be to use existing landfill sites, though WM said it was open to solutions it might not even have considered.
Auckland Council’s general manager for waste solutions, Justine Haves, said council would use the consultation period to assess all WM’s options and submit its own feedback.
She said council’s 2023 waste assessment included a review of regional disposal capacity, and noted limitations and risks around current provision.
“This identified the risk for Auckland in developing alternative options if the Wayby Valley proposed landfill didn’t proceed, and various constraints related to current resource consents,” she said.
Haves said the assessment also highlighted the need for further consideration of waste from north Auckland being sent to Hampton Downs after the expiry of WM’s Redvale consent.
The WM public consultation is open until May 11 and findings will be published in early June.
Community consultation sessions will be held at Dairy Flat and across Auckland, with submissions accepted online, by email or post.
The full consultation document, session dates and submission forms can be found at https://www.wm.nz/consultation/
