Between 7 August and 7 September 2023 Council consulted on how solid waste is managed in Buller from 2025 onwards. This included changes to how rubbish and recycling services are provided and paid for in waste zone one.
The proposed changes involve switching from rubbish bags to bins and how residents pay for their rubbish collection. As this is a significant change, council needs to consult with the community under the Local Government Act 2002.
For the large majority of properties in zone one, this would mean:
Council's consultation on the proposed changes to the household collection services for recycling and waste management zone one has now closed.
Council will consider its next steps at its October or November meeting.
Zone one households that are currently receiving the fortnightly kerbside recycling collection service are charged via a targeted rate of $178 annually.
Currently, rubbish bags, which can be purchased for $9.10 each, are collected weekly. For a household that uses one bag per week, this adds up to $473 per year. Once the recycling fee of $178 is added in, this totals more than $600 per year. For households that use one bag fortnightly ($236) for example, once the existing recycling fee ($178) is included, the cost is more than $400 per annum.
Under the proposed changes, households serviced by the kerbside rubbish and recycling service would face an estimated combined total cost of between $375 and $450* per annum via rates. This is for both rubbish and recycling collection.
*The final cost would be determined via the tender agreement to provide the service.
Council considered the proposal at its meeting on Monday 31 July 2023 and agreed to a consultation process.
A summary of the changes to rubbish and recycling service in zone one under consideration is presented in the Statement of Proposal.
Residents are encouraged to read the Statement of Proposal which includes an analysis of the benefits and background information.
Buller District Council held community meetings in Westport and Reefton. Residents were invited to join us to hear more about the proposed changes.
The Westport meeting has been live streamed on Council’s YouTube channel for people who couldn't be there in person. Tune in and be informed.
Read our key information to understand how we got to where we are.
Next step, how to have your say?
You can find out more about the proposed changes to how solid waste is managed in Buller from 2025 onwards
You can ask questions by sending an email to info@bdc.govt.nz with the subject Waste Management System 2025.
Note, the consultation is closed (as at 7 September 2023) and submissions are no longer being received.
The key findings from Buller District Council’s recent waste consultation reveal concerns from residents over cost, a disproportionate impact on pensioners and minimal waste producers.
You can read the full report Submission report - Proposed new waste management system 2023 here.
A summary of the findings is provided in our media release Analysis of waste consultation submissions released.
You can find all individual submission from Friday 6 October in our October Regulatory and Hearings agenda.
The consultation period closed at 4:30pm Thursday 7 September 2023. Late submissions cannot be accepted.
If you indicated on your written submission that you wish to speak to your submission - to present your information to Councillors - you will be given a time slot to do so during the hearing that Councillors will hold.
The hearing date has been set down for 11 October 2023.
People who indicated they wished to speak to their submissions are being contacted.
After considering all submissions, Council will agree on an option for waste management in Buller from 2025 onwards.
Zone one covers urban Westport and Reefton, the areas from Westport to the Mōkihinui Bridge, Westport to Punakaiki, Westport to Reefton including Blacks Point, and Reefton to Ikamatua.
Mandatory zone one kerbside collection services would only be for properties located on roads on the kerbside collection vehicle route:
Properties located outside of the set collection routes can still choose to be included in the collection network. They will need to take their bins to the nearest main road where the collection service operates.
You can find out more about refuse and recycling zones here.
The Buller District is divided into three zones for recycling and refuse. Residents in zone one receive kerbside collection of rubbish and recycling (yellow bins, glass crates, and pick up of rubbish bags).
For zone one, recycling bins are collected fortnightly, and paid for by a targeted rate of $178.00 annually, as at 1 July 2023. Rubbish bags, which can be purchased for $9.10 each, are collected weekly.
There is currently no kerbside collection in zones two and three.
The local landfills and transfer stations are owned by Council and managed by different operators.
Unsure of which recycling and refuse zone you are in? Go to our recycling and refuse zone page.
A range of reasons have contributed to Council’s decision to look at different ways to manage waste in Buller, including:
Get started to find out more about what is happening by reading our frequently asked questions.
What if my costs go up as a result of this change?
Like all council services there will be some people who use one service or facility more than another.
Rates money pays for new roads, stormwater systems, libraries, water pipes, parks and reserves and so on. Councils all over New Zealand charge rates to provide an overall service for the community. This invariably means in some cases one resident who never goes to the library for example will subsidise another in some way, and vice versa.
This proposal is for the benefit of the wider community, and the environment.
A low user of rubbish bags in zone one may end up paying a bit more overall, and a high user may end up paying less. For many people the cost will remain about the same, but with the convenience of having a set sum charged via rates, rather than having to buy bags throughout the year.
For example, a household that uses one bag per week, is paying up to $473 per year for bags alone. Once the recycling fee of $178 is added in, this totals more than $600 per year.
For households that use one bag fortnightly ($236) for example, once the existing recycling fee ($178) is included, the cost is more than $400 per annum.
Under the proposed changes, households serviced by the kerbside rubbish and recycling service would face an estimated combined total cost of between $375 and $450 per annum via rates (actual cost to be determined via the tender process).
Costs for managing sold waste are likely to continue to rise whether this proposed change goes through or not.
This is due to a range of factors:
Increase in central government’s waste levy for landfills
Rising costs under the Emissions Trading Scheme
Higher freight and fuel costs.
More than half (53%) of the $503 per tonne to drop off waste at the district’s transfer stations goes towards covering the disposal fee at the York Valley landfill. This gate fee funds the operation of the landfill, pays for central government’s waste levy and the Emissions Trading Scheme costs. In addition, 24% covers the costs to collect, store and handle the waste and the remaining 23% pays for freight costs to Nelson.
The high disposal cost of waste has attracted community backlash, and this proposal is a possible way for Council to minimise the impact of the continuing increase of waste management costs for residents.
By working collaboratively with our West Coast neighbours, we hope to pool resources, create economies of scale, increase efficiency and create more competition between service providers.
How will this help reduce illegal dumping?
Illegal dumping is an issue for the Buller District as it is widespread and has a negative effect on both people and the environment. Illegal dumping also has a financial cost to the community – for removal and disposal of the waste by Council. Moving from a system where households need to pay directly for waste collection to a service that is provided to all households is anticipated to reduce illegal dumping by reducing financial barriers to accessing waste disposal.
A move from bags to wheelie bins also prevents animals getting into bags and spreading waste/ litter.
How can this improve recycling efforts and composting?
By providing a rubbish and recycling service to all residents Council is able to encourage households to recycle materials.
Providing 120 litre refuse wheelie bins to all households is anticipated to improve the capture of recyclable materials. Limiting the space in the bins to 120 litre provides an incentive for people to recycle more efficiently and compost food and garden waste. Providing even smaller bins (80L for example) would further encourage households to divert garden waste, either to composting at home or dropping off at Council transfer stations in Westport of Reefton. This is not currently being considered.
For tenants, this means that rubbish collection will be paid for through your landlord’s rates bill. You will no longer need to buy rubbish bags or pay for a private wheelie bin collection.
For landlords, this means that you will start paying for rubbish collection services from your properties through your annual rates bill.
What if I am in zone one, but don’t currently use the yellow bin recycling service?
The combined rubbish and recycling service would now be mandatory if you live on a collection route.
Mandatory zone one kerbside collection services would only be for properties located on roads on the kerbside collection vehicle route:
Properties located outside of the set collection routes can still choose to be included in the collection network. They will need to take their bins to the nearest main road where the collection service operates.
What if I want to stick to weekly rubbish collection?
You can express your views by making a written submission during the consultation.
The experts who advised us say that weekly bin collection would be a more expensive for end users. It would also reduce the environmental benefits of the changes by putting the trucks on the road more frequently.
Here is what was considered, but is not preferred:
Council to provide a weekly collection of rubbish in 80 litre wheelie bins:
Provide larger containers for a weekly service is likely to increase the proportion of garden waste and recyclable materials in the rubbish container.
On balance, this option is considered more expensive for households and could result in more green waste and recyclables disposed of as rubbish.
How does this affect households in Karamea and Maruia who aren’t in zone one?
Karamea and Maruia are not in waste zone one, therefore they aren't directly impacted.
The operation of the Karamea and the Maruia Landfill recycling centres would be included in the new regional contract under the proposal, however, the level of services in both areas would remain as it is. It would be the day-to-day running of the landfill sites that changes to one common West Coast-wide contractor under the new system.
You can find out more on our page Buller’s waste management system 2025.
What are the environmental impacts of the proposed changes?
By switching from weekly kerbside rubbish collection to fortnightly we will be able to reduce the number of truck movements, thereby saving on emissions and fuel.
The Buller environment will benefit from a reduction in fly tipping. Some of this is attributed to people who can’t currently afford rubbish bags or dump fees.
We hope that fewer plastic bags end up in landfill. We know a plastic bag can take decades to break down.
A move from bags to wheelie bins also prevents animals getting into bags and spreading waste/litter all over the street.
In addition, the waste collection sector generally is moving away from the use of bags to collect rubbish for health and safety reasons. The key risks include repeated lifting of bags, running in traffic and sharps in bags.
What are the wider changes proposed?
A collaborative approach to waste management services in the West Coast is being proposed.
The new approach will see the Buller District Council working with Grey and Westland District councils to jointly manage all West Coast waste services (kerbside collection, transfer stations, recycling centres and landfills). This includes:
The creation of a single, regional joint waste management services contract in conjunction with Grey and Westland District councils will not be directly consulted on, though Council will receive feedback on any part of the planned changes to the waste management system.
The plan is expected to bring economies of scale, value for money and a reduction in administration costs.
Council will workshop the Joint Committee of Council Terms of Reference in order to understand more about what is involved. This will most likely occur in October. The Joint Committee is a crucial element of the new model as it will govern the new region-wide waste contract.
You can find out more on our page Buller’s waste management system 2025.
Why doesn’t Buller have its own landfill?
The simple answer is, at this point in time a new landfill in Buller is not cost-effective. In 2008/09, Council carried out a Feasibility Study to determine the viability of building and operate an in-District Landfill in Buller (Local landfill). The outcome was that 900 tonnes of waste per month was required to reach break-down point (the quantity of waste needed to make the landfill operation viable). At that time, Buller produced 250 tonne per month (3,000T a year). Therefore, an in-district landfill was not considered viable.
As we continue to work closer together with Westland and Grey District, we expect that access to local landfills in the region will be one of the points that will be up for discussion. Council will negotiate the best deal it can for the community but doesn't expect waste costs to lower no matter what system is in place.
How can this support waste reduction and minimisation?
120l fortnightly – is in effect a cap - with bags residents can put out as many as they like.
Council continues strong kerbside recycling schemes in place to minimise disposal to landfill.
Government will bring in an organic collection at some point (likely by 2030), further driving waste reduction.
Waste minimization programmes continue to be a significant feature of our community engagement.
What if I don’t use many bags now?
Council notes the feedback we’re receiving that are some are producing less waste than others.
One approach could be to go to 80l every fortnight, some other councils have chosen that as their bin size.
RFID tags on bins also allow for data collection and the potential for rebate if less than a fortnightly collection is being used.
Providing more flexibility in terms of bin sizes is something council can and will consider, but it may come with further cost implications for users and potentially make the tendering process more complex.
What if a lot of people want different sized bins?
This can be considered by council following the close of submissions.
As above, many different levels of service does add complexity (and hence costs) for a contractor to tender in pick up and handling.
Why can’t council fund this out of existing rates?
Currently $178 inc GST is paid annually for a recycling bin.
Additional costs are already being paid by residents via sold refuse bags for refuse services.
General rates are set for service provision; to change the rate direction of this funding to refuse will mean a reduction in other services.
Most Councils around NZ have targeted rates for Solid Waste Management activities.
Council is obligated by the Waste Management Act 2008 to provide regular collection services.
Fortnightly is the most common frequency in the country.
Will there be a rebate for senior citizens?
Assistance towards rates for low-income earners has always been part of BDC processes and this will remain in place.
Are the prices of the bins included in the estimated costs?
Yes, the costs will be absorbed over the 10 years of the contract. As with most councils, if bins are lost there will be cost to the user of replacement.
Residents can access the Statement of Proposal and other information on our website or pop in to have a read at Council facilities in Westport and Reefton, as well as the Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library in Westport, the DOC Visitor Centre in Punakaiki, the Karamea Information Centre, and the Northern Buller Resource Centre.
People can provide feedback or ask questions about details of the plan by sending and email to info@bdc.govt.nz with the subject waste management system 2025
You can also talk to your local councillor about the planned changes.
