The Millers Flat green waste landfill will close next year, ahead of a new organic waste collection being introduced to the district.

Kerbside collection will allow over 10 times more organic waste (green waste and food scraps) to be collected per household per year compared with what can be disposed of at the green waste landfill, the Central Otago District Council (CODC) said in statement to media.

The 240-litre wheelie bins people will be provided with has\ve the capacity to collect over 12 cubic metres - the equivalent of 75 bathtubs full of organic waste - per household per year.

“That’s a big win for the environment because organics recycling is by far the best way to reduce greenhouse gasses from disposal in landfill,” CODC infrastructure manager Quinton Penniall said.

Quinton Penniall

The new waste services will be provided by EnviroWaste, which was the successful bidder for what could be a 12 year contract. 

The new contract is a significant step forward for Central Otago’s commitment towards sustainable waste management, and will see approximately 1,400 tonnes of waste that was otherwise destined for landfill, converted into compost, CODC said. 

EnviroWaste will process the waste into compost using aerated static pile composting technology, then supply it to local end markets. The compost will also be available to be used by council’s parks and reserves team, and in small quantities for local, domestic purchase.

For Millers Flat rural households, customers who sign up to the council’s kerbside service can take their bins to the collection route, and larger quantities can still be taken to the Roxburgh transfer station, just 15 minutes from the current Millers Flat site.

From July 1 next year the existing 240L red lid rubbish bin will be repurposed (with a simple lid swap) as the organics bin with a green lid and be collected weekly. Residents will receive a smaller 140L red lid rubbish bin, which will still be collected fortnightly.

The Millers Flat green waste site has been earmarked for a proposed gold mining activity, CODC said.