Waihī’s refuse station is closing temporarily while new weighbridges are installed.

The Waihī Refuse Transfer Station, owned and operated by Hauraki District Council, is shut from May 5 to mid-June for the planned installation of two weighbridges, along with new contactless technology using number plate recognition.

With two weighbridges, vehicles are weighed as they enter and leave.

Customers pay for the difference in weight, based on what type of rubbish is selected at the first weighbridge.

Council’s Paeroa Refuse Transfer station’s weighbridges were installed in 2023 and have proven to be the best way to improve accuracy, fairness and efficiency in waste disposal.

The Paeroa Refuse Transfer Station is the closest one to use while the Waihī site is closed.

“When it comes to waste disposal costs, it’s a real benefit for the rate payers’ pockets and that’s a win in my book”, said Mayor Toby Adams.

Weighbridges ensure consistent pricing for all customers as charges are not a guestimate.

The ability to collect better data to inform and support waste disposal and infrastructure initiatives is important for the environment too.

The Paeroa Refuse Transfer Station is the closest one to use while the Waihī site is closed.

Residents can lighten their load by first stopping off at the Hauraki Reuse and Repair Centre in Paeroa to drop off, for free, anything that can be resold, repaired or repurposed.

Waihī’s Refuse Transfer Station, Paeroa Weighbridge.

Then drop off any recycling (that’s also free) at the Paeroa Refuse Transfer Station, before using the weigh bridges for rubbish disposal.

“Only move onto the weighbridge when the vehicle in front has exited and moved past the boom. You don’t want to be paying for someone else’s weight,” said Adams.

The Waihī RTS will be open at the usual times through to Sunday May 4 and then closed from May 5 to mid June.

Council thanks the community for their understanding while this important upgrade takes place.

Paeroa and Waihī RTS operating hours are:

Open: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm.

Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays and all Public Holidays.