Cardboard makes up around 60 percent of the waste dropped at our Martinborough Transfer station.

Even though every load passes through the recycling zone before the weighbridge, many residents still take all their recycling straight to the landfill.

This not only adds extra cost to landfill disposal but also fills up valuable space with items that could easily be recycled.

Recycling just one ton of cardboard saves 17 trees, or 1,440 litres of oil, or 2.3 cubic metres of landfill space.

Here are some tips to help reduce your landfill costs and minimise your environmental footprint.

Donate or sell usable items

If it’s still in good condition, give it a second life! Use local social media to advertise free items or take them to a reuse or op shop. (But please make sure items aren’t damaged or dirty, otherwise, these shops have to pay to send them to landfill.)

Sort your recycling before you go

Separate plastics, cans, tins, cardboard, and paper at home. Remember, corrugated cardboard has its own area separate from other cardboard and paper.

Load your recycling last

Put recycling in your vehicle last so it’s the first thing you unload at the transfer station. The recycling zone comes before the landfill zone.

Forgot to drop off your recycling?

If you find recycling in your vehicle after the weighbridge, keep it in your car and drop it off on your way out. This way, you avoid paying landfill fees for recyclable items.

Find rubbish and recycling information on our website and watch the video at the bottom of the webpage to see the real impact waste has on our country.