Recycling and rubbish

In recent weeks there has been discussion in the media regarding the risks posed by historic landfills, particularly those near coastal and river locations. The Council recognised the possible risks posed by these historic sites nearly a decade ago and commissioned a review of their state and a management plan to mitigate the risks. This management plan was specifically commissioned to identify and evaluate the landfills in the area and give us a base to launch a two yearly monitoring programme – the 4th of which is currently underway. The management plan prepared in 2011 for all the known closed landfills within the Tasman District. 

There are 19 closed landfills with Tasman District, of which 8 are located on the coastline. These are located at:

• Richmond, at the site of the Richmond Resource Recovery Centre, 16 Fittal Street
• Robinson Road, Māriri, near Motueka,
• Aporo Road, Tasman,
• Kina Beach Road, Kina
• Old Wharf Road, Motueka
• Lodder Lane, Riwaka
• Pah Point, between Riwaka and Kaiteriteri
• Rototai, Motupipi, in Golden Bay

In that time we have recognised the environmental risks, climate change or otherwise, at these sites and in a number of instances have taken steps to preserve their integrity. In recent years this has included rock protection of two coastal sites (Richmond Resource Recovery Centre and Rototai). We have also scheduled further risk assessment of sites near the coast and rivers this coming year.

There are no active landfills within the Tasman District but we share management of the York Valley landfill, in Nelson, with Nelson City Council. The Eves Valley landfill, in Tasman District, closed in June 2017.  

Neither of these landfills are located on or near the coast.