Millers Flat greenwaste landfill to close

The Millers Flat greenwaste landfill will close 30 June next year, ahead of the new organic waste collection being introduced to the district on 1 July.

After the closure of the Millers Flat refuse landfill in 1997, a consent was granted to provide the Millers Flat community with a greenwaste landfill with the capacity of 130 cubic metres per annum of uncompacted greenwaste. Now that Central Otago District Council (CODC) is introducing organics collection (greenwaste and foodscraps), the Millers Flat greenwaste landfill will no longer be needed.

Kerbside collections will allow just over 10 times more organic waste to be collected per household per year compared with what can be disposed of at the greenwaste landfill. The 240-litre wheelie bin that people will be provided with would have the capacity to collect over 12 cubic metres per year, CODC Infrastructure Manager Quinton Penniall said.

“That’s a big win for the environment because organics recycling is by far the best way to reduce greenhouse gasses from disposal in a landfill.

“This move will also eliminate the risks associated with operating an unmanned greenwaste disposal facility, and the costs of ongoing management, bringing the level of service in Millers Flat into line with the rest of the district.”

Kerbside collections also cut down on the travel time as the waste can be picked up from outside each property. Rural customers who sign up to the Council’s kerbside service can bring their bins to the collection route, and larger quantities can still be taken to the Roxburgh transfer station, which is just 15 minutes from the current Millers Flat site.

The site has been earmarked for a proposed gold mining activity, along with the formation of four previously unformed and unnamed roads. The organics collection will be rolled out before this will be allowed to take place.