Marlborough District Council will increase solid waste fees and charges from 1 July 2026.
The annual review ensures fees reflect the true cost of providing waste services, with increases driven by higher operating costs, Government levies and emissions pricing.
Solid Waste Manager Mark Lucas said the changes were about keeping the system fair while encouraging people to reduce waste.
“We know any increase has an impact on households, so we’ve worked to keep changes as low as possible while still covering costs.
“There’s also an opportunity here for us all: by reusing and recycling more, we can reduce what we send to landfill and keep costs down for everyone over time.”
The key changes include:
- Landfill charges increase by 4.27%
- Transfer station charges increase by 6%
- Commercial recycling charges increase by 4%
- Targeted increases for whiteware, e-waste and Council rubbish bags
The increased fees at Bluegums Landfill reflect higher waste levies and emissions costs. Examples include:
- General waste categories increase by about $10 a tonne
- Timber, vineyard posts and sawdust increase by about $21 a tonne
At the Blenheim Transfer Station and other transfer stations, most user-pays charges increase by 6%. Examples include:
- General refuse (Blenheim) increases by about $18 a tonne
- Greenwaste (Blenheim) increases by about $5.50 a tonne
Some items will see increases to align fees with actual disposal costs:
- Whiteware: from $15.00 to $25.00 per item
- Laptops, microwaves, printers: from $5.00 to $5.50
The increases apply at transfer stations and the Hazardous Waste Centre.
Commercial recycling charges will increase by 4%, including:
- Co-mingled recycling: from $195.00 to $202.80 per tonne
- Cardboard: from $125.00 to $130.00 per tonne
Two new commercial recycling streams will also be introduced:
- Mixed glass: $229.51 per tonne
- HDPE plastic: $130.00 per tonne
The cost of buying a Council rubbish bag will increase from $1.85 to $3.75 to reflect the true cost of landfill disposal. There is no disposal charge for these bags at Blenheim Transfer Station.
Over 50,000 bags are used annually, primarily as overflow for kerbside collection or those living outside the kerbside collection areas.
A review of how waste services are funded will also be undertaken as part of the Long Term Plan 2027 - 2037, including options to improve cost recovery and reduce reliance on rates.
For information about waste management in Marlborough go to Councils website.
