Buller’s official rubbish bag and waste charges to increase

Charges for disposal of refuse at the Westport and Reefton Transfer Stations and Recycling Centres are set to rise from 21 July 2025. The increases will also apply to kerbside rubbish collection services in Zone One.

Official refuse bags will cost $11.80 per bag, up from the current $10.90 per bag. The charge for rubbish dropped off at the Westport and Reefton Transfer Stations will rise to $653.10 per tonne, from last year’s $606.50 per tonne.

Buller’s refuse is transported to the York Valley Landfill in Nelson and the price increase is due to a rise the associated waste transport and disposal costs. The price of official refuse bags and disposal costs are set by contractor Smart Environmental Limited. All prices include GST.

Residents can still bring any extra domestic recycling to the Westport and Reefton Transfer Stations free of charge, but for larger quantities of recycling (over 250 kg), commercial charges will apply. The cost for commercial quantities of glass is now $107.10 per tonne.

With the recent extension of council’s green waste initiative until 31 December 2025, there is no charge for green waste disposal at present. The charge for scrap metal has increased slightly, to $42.90 per tonne.

Vehicle tyres, including those from cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors and loaders can also be disposed of free of charge under the Tyrewise tyre stewardship program, with a limit of five tyres per person or company per day.

Group Manager Infrastructure Services Anthony Blom says: “These price rises are standard process and in line with our usual expected annual increases.

Cost factors for council’s contractor, Smart Environmental Limited (SEL), which collects and disposes of Buller’s rubbish, are increasing across the board. This includes the freight costs required to transport the waste from Buller to the York Valley Landfill in Nelson, and the associated handling charges.”

Refuse charges in Buller cover kerbside collection, the handling fee at the local transfer stations, transportation from Westport and Reefton to the York Valley Landfill in Nelson, as well as the gate fee at point of disposal ($287.50 per tonne).

Mr Blom continues “On top of these handling and transport costs, there are Emissions Trading Scheme fees and the Waste Levy, which is also paid per tonne of waste disposed (currently $65 per tonne). SEL is unable to avoid passing on some of these costs.

We are constantly evaluating options for how we can minimise the impact of continuing increases in waste management costs on residents. We appreciate that households are already managing tight budgets and increasing costs of living.”

For more information on ways to minimise waste, and a full schedule of waste disposal costs, residents can visit council’s website, bullerdc.govt.nz/waste-and-recycling/

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
Community Engagement Team
Buller District Council
Media.Enquiries@bdc.govt.nz 

Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.