Waste is generated when people discard things that they do not have a use for, or perceive to have little or no value. Council is responsible for promoting effective and efficient waste management and waste reduction practices. The generation of waste often highlights inefficiencies in a waste management system, whether it be domestic or commercial waste. Waste reduction is the first step in the ‘waste hierarchy’ which is shown to the right. As waste flows through the hierarchy, the quantity for disposal is significantly less than that created initially.

The Matamata-Piako District Council has a landfill at Matamata and two refuse transfer stations, one at Waihou, and the other in Morrinsville adjacent to the closed landfill. Council contracts out the management and operation of these sites.

The Morrinsville landfill is being decommissioned at present and is expected to close in the year 2000. Upon closure of the landfill, all solid waste will be disposed of to an out of district landfill. Council has prepared landfill management plans and obtained resource consents for the Matamata and Morrinsville landfills, which help to ensure that use of the landfills avoids, remedies or mitigates potential adverse effects on the environment.

What is waste?

"Materials and energy which have no further use and are released to the environment as a means of disposal" (Ministry for the Environment (Mfe) 1998)