Masterton’s transfer station is increasing its fees on Wednesday, February 1.
It’s the second price hike in just six months – with a third now expected in July.
That’s despite residents being assured there wouldn’t be another increase for at least a year when the previous hike kicked in during July, 2022.
A Masterton District Council [MDC] spokesperson said the unanticipated increase is due to the climbing cost of waste disposal at the Bonny Glen Landfill near Marton – the final destination for Masterton’s general waste.
Bonny Glen Landfill’s gate fees were increased on January 1 due to the spiralling cost of carbon credits the landfill operator has to buy as part of the Emissions Trading Scheme.
The carbon price more than doubled between 2020 and 2022.
MDC finance manager David Paris said there is no option but to pass the increase on to Masterton residents.
“We appreciate the extra costs imposed by these increases are not ideal, but there is no ability to use rates funding to offset the unexpected jump in the costs of disposing waste to landfill,” he said.
“The Council’s Revenue and Financing Policy aims to achieve 100 per cent user-pays for the cost of waste sent to landfill. Those who generate waste to landfill should pay the full cost of disposal with no subsidy from other ratepayers.”
The cost of disposing of a tonne of waste will increase from $220 to $246 [plus GST].
There will be no change to charges for green waste or the free drop-off of recycling.
Charges for dumping smaller loads will also increase.
Rubbish bags [not pre-paid council blue bags] are increasing from $7 to $7.50, while car boot loads [up to 100kg] will increase from $26 to $29, small trailers/utes [up to 300kg] will increase from $61 to $68.20, and large trailers [up to 500kg] will cost $89 instead of the current $80.
The cost of the Emissions Trading Scheme and the $30/t waste levy imposed by the Ministry for Environment now makes up 55 per cent of the Bonny Glen gate price.
From 1 July, the cost to send waste to landfill will increase again as the Waste Levy is scheduled to rise by another $20/t.
The MDC spokesperson confirmed Masterton residents can expect to have this cost passed on to them as well.
In the meantime, the council has been encouraging people to minimise the waste that has been going to landfill by “reducing, reusing and recycling” when possible.
