South Waikato District Council will officially open the Tokoroa Transfer Station on Saturday 31 October, with the first day of operation on Sunday 1 November when it will be open to the public for use.
The decision to construct the Tokoroa Transfer Station came following public consultation in early 2019. Council resolved to close the Tokoroa landfill, build the transfer station at the Newell Road site and transport rubbish out of the district to the Hampton Downs landfill for final disposal.
“As the world and many organisations shift their focus to more environmentally friendly and cost-effective methods to cope with waste management, the addition of the Tokoroa Transfer Station comes at a welcomed time,” said Ted Anderson, Council’s Asset Group Manager.
“Waste management and recycling is a priority for our community and now that the Tokoroa Landfill has reached full capacity and the end of the resource consent timeframe, constructing the transfer station was in the best interest of our local residents and ratepayers.”
Over the last two decades there has been a significant change in the way waste is viewed and managed both nationally and globally.
As a result, there has been a shift from numerous small landfills to fewer large landfills (327 landfills in 1995, to 43 landfills in 2017). The increased focus on environmental performance and the costs have been the biggest driver in this happening.
“The decision to construct the transfer station here in Tokoroa was viewed as the most sustainable for ratepayers with the long term in mind,” Mr. Anderson added.
As the Tokoroa Transfer Station opens on Sunday 1 November, this Saturday will signal the final day for public use of the nearby Landfill. From Sunday, all waste will be directed to the new transfer station for rubbish and recycling.
Council will commence final closure process for the landfill with intermediate capping, general tidying of the site and other remediation works from Monday 2 November.
Council would like to acknowledge the work of contractors DG Waste who have managed the Landfill site over the past several years.
Furthermore, Council extend their thanks to contractors CH Construction who constructed the transfer station building and Civil Construction Services who were responsible for the civils and associated site work while managing to complete this project on schedule to a high standard and within budget.
The support Council received from EnviroWaste and South Waikato Achievement Trust (SWAT) is worth noting and have made this transition from the landfill to the transfer station in Tokoroa as seamless as possible.
Opening hours will not differ from the previous Tokoroa Landfill hours and fees and charges will be clearly shown on-site as well as on our website.
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