For residents this means the charge for a small carload of rubbish (under 100kg) will rise from $14 to $17.

A small van or trailer load (under 250kg) will rise from $35 to $42, and a large van or trailer load (under 400kg) will increase from $56 to $68.

Special waste requiring immediate burial will rise from $145 per tonne to $178.

Council operates a landfill and resource recovery centre at Broadlands Road in Taupō and five transfer stations around the district.

The refuse charges at these sites are directly influenced by the Government’s waste disposal levy and the requirement to purchase NZ units (carbon credits) under the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Council purchase carbon credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions. The unit price has risen drastically, more than doubling in the last 12 months. Payment of these is mandatory for council, not optional.

Taupō District Council asset manager solid waste & stormwater Brent Aitken says that the amount charged under both initiatives has risen sharply and will likely continue to do so for some time.

“These changes have impacted on our landfill user charges, making it more expensive to dump waste at landfill and transfer stations around the district.”

You can reduce the amount of waste you send to landfill through kerbside recycling and composting at home. Council also provides recycling programmes at the Broadlands Road resource recovery centre – from computers to child car seats. To learn more visit taupo.govt.nz/rubbishandrecycling.

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