Ministers Scott Simpson and Simon Watts visited Waihī on Friday to mark the announcement of $658,190 from the Government's Waste Minimisation Fund toward a major upgrade of the Waihī Refuse Transfer Station. The funding was announced by Environment Minister Nicola Grigg and Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts. HDC is contributing $420,810, bringing the total project cost to $1,079,000.
When complete in 2028, the upgrade will divert around 3,000 tonnes of material from landfill each year. The station's capacity to receive recyclables and glass will also increase.
The upgrade includes a dedicated construction and demolition waste sorting area and will allow greenwaste to be mulched and reused in local parks and public spaces, with surplus material composted. The Waihī Transfer Station is HDC's busiest transfer station, serving residents from both Hauraki and Western Bay of Plenty, particularly over summer when visitor numbers and construction activity are at their highest. This investment is part of HDC's wider waste minimisation programme, focused on making the most of what we have and keeping valuable materials in use for longer.
Image 1 and 2 credit: Alice Parminter, The Valley Profile
