Council owns and operates a landfill in Tokoroa and a transfer station in Putaruru. Greenwaste mulching takes place in Tokoroa. All of these sites are managed for Council by private operators in accordance with Council's Landfill Management Plans.

Council provides weekly refuse and fortnightly kerbside recyclable collection from defined areas (mostly urban) paying for this service, in Arapuni, Putaruru, Tirau and Tokoroa.

• Tuesday - Putaruru and Arapuni 
• Wednesday - parts of Tokoroa (central - bordered by Statehighway 1, Baird Road, Maraetai Road and Elizabeth Drive)
• Thursday - parts of Tokoroa (south of Maraetai Road)
• Friday - Tirau and parts of Tokoroa (northern - north of Baird Road) (west - west of Elizabeth Drive, between Baird Road and Maraetai Road)

The collection maps and dates for all areas can be accessed here.

The litter collection service ensures that there are adequate bins in public places and that these are properly maintained and emptied. General litter collection from kerbs and channels, some road berms and water tables is also part of this service. There has been increasing expenditure to deal with illegal dumping and cars illegally abandoned on roadsides.

Council has introduced an anti-littering anti-dumping campaign called Biff it in the Bin. The campaign is three-fold: increased level of service, education/promotion and infringements/prosecution. This campaign is sponsored by local corporates Kinleith, Hancock Forest Management, South Waikato News and Mighty River Power. Public support to date has been fantastic. Council has introduced an infringement regime.

New recycling bins have been placed recently in the Tokoroa CBD. The Litter Collection service is funded 100% through Uniform Annual General Charge and/or Additional Dwelling(s) Rate.

Council provides weekly refuse and fortnightly kerbside recyclable collection from defined areas (mostly urban) paying for this service, in Arapuni, Putaruru, Tirau and Tokoroa. The Refuse Collection service is funded 100% through a targeted rate on a uniform basis on each separately used or inhabited portion of a rating unit.

Council does not operate hazardous waste disposal systems except for receiving surplus agrichemicals at Tokoroa. These are destroyed by Environment Waikato as a regional service.

The future of our rubbish

There is an increasing expectation of Council to improve the litter collection service. Council recently commissioned a report to look at the possibilities for its waste and recycling service.

It is anticipated that the volumes of refuse will decrease due to public education, increasing waste minimisation actions and improving financial returns from some selected recycled products. Residents can expect a hygienic, clean environment from the services. Council is confident it delivers on this service.

Council's ten year plan includes:

Preparing a new lined landfill cell.
Improving recycling.
The continued weighing of refuse at the Tokoroa landfill.
The pumping of leachate to the Tokoroa Sewage Treatment Plant.

It is expected that the Tokoroa landfill will fill more quickly now that the Putaruru facility is closed. The need for additional facilities at Tokoroa will be dependent on the amount of waste being deposited. The Tokoroa landfill is currently expected to close between 2015 and 2021. The site will maintain sufficient capacity within the 10 year plan, but there is adequate land to form a new landfill when the first lined cell is full.

Performance measures

Council's recycling target is a minimum of 5% of total solid waste that is taken to the landfill.
At least 95% of residents rate the waste collection service as average, good or very good.
At least 85% of residents rate landfill sites as average, good or very good.
At least 88% of residents rate litter control as average, good or very good.

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