Marlburians are encouraged to have their say on Council’s Waste Fees and Charges consultation from Monday 26 May.

Acting Mayor David Croad said dealing with the cost of Marlborough’s waste was a challenging part of Council’s core business.

“Almost half of the increase we are proposing is related to Government requirements that are outside of Council’s control. We are also working hard to prolong the life of the Bluegums landfill including to reduce the volume of waste going into it. At the same time, we need to plan for the day when the landfill ultimately closes and the ongoing costs associated with that,” he said.

“We do not wish to see additional price increases at this time, but the disposal of waste is not free and whatever we can do to reduce, reuse and recycle is to all our collective benefit.”

Waste costs are covered via a user pays system at the Bluegums landfill and the Blenheim Transfer Station with the other transfer stations around Marlborough funded through a mixture of user pays and rates.

The proposed increase from 1 September 2025 at Bluegums landfill is 17.82% for all waste types except grass clippings and green waste. It is also proposed to increase all charges at the region’s transfer stations by an average of 17.82%.

“In real terms, the proposed changes equate to an extra $5.92 for the average load of general waste to the Blenheim transfer station, an increase of $2.43 for an average load of green waste and grass clippings will not increase at all,” Acting Mayor Croad said.

Whiteware and E-Waste prices will remain the same for the next 12 months.

The proposed charges will cover legislative requirements including an increase in the Waste Levy, a change in the method of calculating the Unique Emissions Factor and an increase in the cost of carbon credits to offset the landfill’s greenhouse gas emissions. The balance is made up of increases in landfill aftercare and reserve provisions including operational and capital costs, and post closure expenses.

Solid Waste Manager Mark Lucas said comparisons with other local authorities in the South Island showed Marlborough had the third lowest overall cost for waste disposal.

“The charges set at the Bluegums landfill have a flow on effect for all other waste streams in Marlborough and are based on a user-pays model designed to cover the costs associated with this service. The more waste that can be diverted from landfill, the easier it will be on everyone’s pockets.

“By embracing reuse and recycling, the community not only avoids immediate disposal fees for reusable items but also contributes to a more financially sustainable waste system that protects everyone from the fee increases that inevitably accompany landfill capacity constraints,” Mr Lucas said.

Council has budgeted $22M for the 2025/26 year to cover the costs of Marlborough’s waste services.

The consultation closes on 6 June 2025. Submissions will be considered by full Council on 26 June.

For more information from Monday 8am go to: www.marlborough.govt.nz/your-council/have-your-say-consultations

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