All Marlborough waste facilities – apart from remote transfer stations - will, in future, be closed on New Year’s Day and Anzac Day.
This includes staffed transfer stations in Blenheim, Picton, Havelock, Rai Valley, Seddon and Wairau Valley, the Recycling Centre, Hazardous Waste Centre, Dump Shop and Bluegums Landfill.
As well, no kerbside collection will be available on New Year’s Day.
Council’s January Strategic and Community Partnerships committee heard Solid Waste Manager Mark Lucas outline concerns around staff well-being and work-life balance.
“Current contractual arrangements require operations on most public holidays providing staff with only two public holidays off annually,” he said. “The change will result in improved staff well-being and cost savings of $11,429 per year through reduced penal rates.”
While New Year’s Day fell within the busiest holiday period, analysis showed minimal impact from closure. To help manage any backlog, the landfill would operate for a full day on 2 January, compared with the normal four hours.
Currently, all waste facilities are closed Christmas Day, Good Friday and until 1pm on Anzac Day. If ratified by full Council, New Year’s Day would be included along with the whole of Anzac Day.
The closed days will be the actual days and does not affect any non-staffed sites such as the remote transfer stations.
Amendment – 24 April 2026
Subsequent to this media statement, please note that all Council waste sites will be closed for the entire day on Saturday 25 April 2026. As there is no kerbside collection on a Saturday, this service is not affected. All Council waste services, including kerbside collection, will operate as normal from Sunday 26 2026.
