Rubbish dump becomes 'resource recovery park'

The place where rubbish goes used to be called a dump.

But in Whangarei, rubbish will now go to a "resource recovery park" called Re:sort.

While Re:sort may have more charm than the current Pohe Island landfill, which closes on Sunday, the new facility comes at a price.

The cost of dumping a trailer load of rubbish will rise from $4 to $16. Also from Monday, householders will pay $1.40 per rubbish bag in the weekly collection at the gate.

The Kaipara District Council charges $1.80 per bag, while Far North residents pay $2 a bag and $18 a trailer load at the tip.

Whangarei District Council waste manager Gary Oldcorn said Whangarei had enjoyed cheap dumping for many years but the landfill was full and no longer met environmental standards.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)