Working towards zero waste to landfill by 2040 at Great Barrier Island, New Zealand

20 November 2023

Solution provider

Mil-tek drives recycling forward with sustainable waste handling equipment. Our compactors and balers cut waste volumes, boost recycling, and help businesses reach their sustainability goals with greater efficiency.

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Challenge

Great Barrier Island, located 90 kilometres northeast of Auckland, is a pristine natural haven known for its rugged landscapes and diverse ecosystems. Covering approximately 285 square kilometres, it is the largest and most remote of the Hauraki Gulf islands. The island’s small population of around 1,000 residents lives largely off the grid.

During the summer months, visitor numbers exceed the local population, with more than 1,000 people arriving daily. This seasonal influx placed significant pressure on the island’s limited infrastructure. Without intervention, the island’s only landfill – Claris Landfill – was projected to reach capacity before 2027.

Solution

To address this growing challenge, a multi-faceted waste management initiative was developed, with Mil-tek New Zealand playing a key role.

Compacting recyclable waste with a Mil-tek baler
A Mil-tek baler was installed on the island, powered by generators, to compact recyclable materials before transport to the mainland. By reducing the volume of recyclable waste by up to 90%, the baler made it far easier, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly to ship materials for recycling.

Establishing anamata resource recovery
The Anamata Resource Recovery facility was established to manage all recycling activities on Great Barrier Island. Residents and visitors can drop off unwanted items and materials, which are then either reused, recycled into new products, or sent to mainland facilities for further processing.

Setting the goal: Zero waste to landfill by 2040
With improved infrastructure and community engagement, new long-term goals were set—most notably the ambitious target of achieving zero waste to landfill by 2040.

The H501 Mil-tek baler working at Great Barrier Island

Result

Today, all waste from Great Barrier Island is transported to Auckland for processing, significantly reducing landfill use. The island has also added a Mil-tek H600 heavy-duty baler to further enhance waste reduction and recycling efficiency.

Mil-tek engineers periodically visit the island to service the balers and generators, ensuring smooth operation. Thanks to these ongoing efforts, Great Barrier Island continues to move steadily toward its vision of becoming zero waste to landfill by 2040.