Rubbish and Recycling

Waste is any solid, gaseous or liquid materials that are unwanted and thrown away. It's rubbish, junk, refuse, trash and garbage. The amount of waste generated across Southland District equates to about 370kg per person per year.

Seven transfer stations, with refuse, green waste and recycling services, are found throughout the district, along with 11 recycling drop-off centres, including three at the transfer stations, and two greenwaste sites. Tokens need to be bought from your local Council Office for use at the transfer stations, which do not hold cash.

What is left over after recycling is transported to the regional landfill at Kings Bend.

Council has partnered with its neighbouring local authorities - Invercargill City and Gore District - to establish WasteNet, which is working to provide waste management solutions for the region. Over the next three years, a new Southland waste management and minimisation plan will be developed.

Southland District has 7 transfer stations throughout the region, and their location and opening hours are listed below.

Hours of Operation

Sites are closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Anzac morning.

Riversdale and Wallacetown have stations where green waste can be dropped off.

Transfer Station Charges

The charges at all Council transfer stations, effective July 1, 2009, are:

Recycling and Reuse includes:

• Greenwaste - separated clean greenwaste (where accepted). Excludes soils, flaxes, branches over 150mm diameter and tree stumps.
• Scrapmetal - separated clean scrapmetal (where accepted). 
• Reuse/Recyclables - domestic household recyclables, including cardboard, glass, plastic (types 1 and 2), aluminium and tin cans. Reuse items which are deemed reusable by the attendant. All recyclables and reuse items have to be clean from contamination.

Hazardous waste from the same individual or organisation in excess of 10 kilograms or 10 litres will be subject to special charges by negotiation with the engineer or his delegated representative on a case-by-case basis.

All loads over 8 tonnes gross weight at compacting transfer stations (Winton and Te Anau) and 3 tonnes gross weight at non-compacting transfer stations (all others) WILL NOT be accepted unless you have written approval from the Group Manager Assets and Services or his agent.