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Waste services contract extended
The waste services contract between Buller District Council (BDC) and Smart Environmental has been extended and zone one residents will use pre-paid rubbish bags for another year.
“Council is working to procure a new zone one contractor. One of the main changes in the procurement contract will be to include the implementation of rubbish “wheelie” bins, instead of rubbish bags,” BDC Group Manager Infrastructure Services Anthony Blom says.
Earlier this year Mr Blom outlined that further information and clarification about estimated costs had been requested relating to the proposed new contract, impacting on the implementation of the new waste collectionContinue reading
The waste services contract between Buller District Council (BDC) and Smart Environmental has been extended and zone one residents will use pre-paid rubbish bags for another year.
“Council is working to procure a new zone one contractor. One of the main changes in the procurement contract will be to include the implementation of rubbish “wheelie” bins, instead of rubbish bags,” BDC Group Manager Infrastructure Services Anthony Blom says.
Earlier this year Mr Blom outlined that further information and clarification about estimated costs had been requested relating to the proposed new contract, impacting on the implementation of the new waste collection service.
As a consequence, Council has chosen to extend the Smart Environmental contract until July 2027, meaning there is no change for residents until that time.
The Buller District is divided into three zones for recycling and refuse. Zone one covers Westport, the areas from Westport to the Mōkihinui Bridge, Westport to Punakaiki, Westport to Reefton (including Blacks Point), and Reefton to Ikamatua.
Zone two covers the Karamea area north of the Mokihinui Bridge and zone three is beyond Blacks Point, including Springs Junction and Maruia. These areas are not affected by the change, as they have no kerbside collection.
Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at the time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information. -
Refuse bags to stay for another year
People living in in Zone one including Westport, Reefton, and surrounding areas, will continue to dispose of their rubbish using pre-paid rubbish bags until mid-2027.
Buller District Council intended to change the way rubbish is managed in Refuse Zone one by 1 July 2026, replacing rubbish bags with wheelie bins, paid for through a targeted rate.
This change will align with the start of Zone one's new 10-year waste management contract. The contract includes running waste and recycling services and facilities in Zone one, collecting kerbside rubbish and recycling, operating the Westport and Reefton Transfer Stations, and emptying public litterContinue reading
People living in in Zone one including Westport, Reefton, and surrounding areas, will continue to dispose of their rubbish using pre-paid rubbish bags until mid-2027.
Buller District Council intended to change the way rubbish is managed in Refuse Zone one by 1 July 2026, replacing rubbish bags with wheelie bins, paid for through a targeted rate.
This change will align with the start of Zone one's new 10-year waste management contract. The contract includes running waste and recycling services and facilities in Zone one, collecting kerbside rubbish and recycling, operating the Westport and Reefton Transfer Stations, and emptying public litter bins in urban areas.
Group Manager Infrastructure Services Anthony Blom says: “In August 2025, after deciding on a council-provided wheelie bin collection service paid through a targeted rate, we went back to waste management suppliers through a selective tender process.”
“After reviewing the proposals, we established that we needed to understand in more depth how the community would take up the proposed refuse wheelie bin service.”
In April 2025, councillors decided to introduce refuse wheelie bins in Zone one, to be paid for through a targeted rate. Property owners would have the choice between an 80 L,120 L, or 240 L wheelie bin. Alternatively, property owners could opt out of kerbside rubbish collection altogether.
Mr Blom explains: “The option to opt out, and the different bin sizes at different price points give people the ability to tailor the service to their needs. However, it adds complexity to estimating how much income the new system will generate.”
Knowing the total amount of rubbish to be collected through the service is vital for approximating the targeted rate for each bin size that is charged to each user.”
Mr Blom outlines: “To further our contract clarification, we need more details and have therefore decided to delay the implementation of wheelie bins by 12 months. This will give us enough time to negotiate firm contract terms and will allow sufficient lead time to roll out the wheelie bins.”
Council is in discussion with the current waste management contract holder, Smart Environmental Ltd, to extend the existing contract by 12 months.
The Buller District is divided into three zones for recycling and refuse. Zone one covers Westport, the areas from Westport to the Mōkihinui Bridge, from Westport to Punakaiki, from Westport to Reefton (including Blacks Point), and from Reefton to Ikamatua.
Zone two covers the Karamea area north of the Mokihinui Bridge and Zone three is beyond Blacks Point, including Springs Junction and Maruia. These areas are not affected by the change, as they have no kerbside collection.
Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at the time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information. -
Buller District Council’s revised waste services contract to be retendered
Buller District Council has released its updated waste services contract Request for Proposal to the market via selective tendering, where only existing tenderers are invited to resubmit.
Applications are open for the next five weeks, until Thursday, 18 September. The contract, effective for 2026-2036, has an updated scope of services.
In April 2025, the council decided to move to a rubbish collection service paid through a targeted rate for Buller’s Zone one, rather than the previously proposed pay-as-you-throw model.
Group Manager Infrastructure Services Anthony Blom says: “It was proposed that the scope of services would be modified and run throughContinue reading
Buller District Council has released its updated waste services contract Request for Proposal to the market via selective tendering, where only existing tenderers are invited to resubmit.
Applications are open for the next five weeks, until Thursday, 18 September. The contract, effective for 2026-2036, has an updated scope of services.
In April 2025, the council decided to move to a rubbish collection service paid through a targeted rate for Buller’s Zone one, rather than the previously proposed pay-as-you-throw model.
Group Manager Infrastructure Services Anthony Blom says: “It was proposed that the scope of services would be modified and run through a revised contract and tender process. All companies that tendered initially have indicated they are open to receiving the revised scope of services and tendering again.”
The new waste management contract will encompass the management of waste and recycling services and facilities in Zone one, including kerbside rubbish and recycling collection, operations at Westport and Reefton Transfer Stations, and the emptying of public litter bins in urban areas.
Council’s current contract with Smart Environmental Ltd was extended by 12 months earlier in 2025 and will end on 30 June 2026.
The council initially went to the open market in September 2024, seeking proposals from waste management companies interested in providing waste management services for the ten years from 1 July 2025.
“Proposals from tenderers were received, but following the evaluation, further operational risks were identified, resulting in the council deciding to review the scope of services,” continues Mr Blom.
Council expects the current procurement process to be finalised in late 2025, with a preferred supplier expected to be confirmed and endorsed by the council in November 2025, ready for the new contract to commence on 1 July 2026.
The Buller District is divided into three zones for recycling and refuse. Zone one covers Westport, the areas from Westport to the Mōkihinui Bridge, Westport to Punakaiki, Westport to Reefton (including Blacks Point), and Reefton to Ikamatua.
Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at the time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information. -
Council extends Buller’s waste management contract by one year
Council has re-extended the waste management contract with Smart Environmental for one year, until 30 June 2026.
Smart Environmental Ltd (SEL) has delivered rubbish and recycling management in Buller’s waste management Zone one since 2014, with the current contract due to end on 30 June 2025.
The Buller District is divided into three zones for recycling and refuse. Zone one covers Westport, the areas from Westport to the Mōkihinui Bridge, Westport to Punakaiki, Westport to Reefton (including Blacks Point), and Reefton to Ikamatua.
In September 2024, council went to the open market seeking proposals from waste management companies interested inContinue reading
Council has re-extended the waste management contract with Smart Environmental for one year, until 30 June 2026.
Smart Environmental Ltd (SEL) has delivered rubbish and recycling management in Buller’s waste management Zone one since 2014, with the current contract due to end on 30 June 2025.
The Buller District is divided into three zones for recycling and refuse. Zone one covers Westport, the areas from Westport to the Mōkihinui Bridge, Westport to Punakaiki, Westport to Reefton (including Blacks Point), and Reefton to Ikamatua.
In September 2024, council went to the open market seeking proposals from waste management companies interested in providing waste management for the next ten years, starting from 1 July 2025.
Group Manager Infrastructure Services Anthony Blom emphasises council's commitment to good strategic planning and risk mitigation, stating: “Three proposals from tenderers were received and evaluated.
Following the evaluation, further operational risks were identified, resulting in council deciding to review the scope of services. This decision was due to our commitment to establishing a sound base for our waste management in the coming 10 years. Hence, we opted to review the scope of services, and address the risks identified to ensure the best value for our community.”
Council has carried out extensive community engagement, involving two rounds of consultation between August 2023 and May 2024 before going out to market.
Mr Blom explains: “We will now review the contract, and once drafted, complete the tender process. Due to the timeline required to work through this, the current waste management services contract requires a further 12-month extension from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.”
Therefore, residents in Zone one will continue to use the 60-litre pre-paid rubbish bags which are collected weekly, until 30 June 2026. No wheelie bins will be issued until the new scope of services is agreed on.
The new waste management contract will include managing waste and recycling services and facilities in Zone one, including rubbish and recycling kerbside collection, Westport and Reefton Transfer Stations operations, and emptying of public litter bins in urban areas.
Mr Blom outlines: “Tenderers were notified that council proposes to modify the scope of services and that this will be run through a revised contract and tender process.”
All three of the companies tendering confirmed that they would be open to receiving a revised scope of service and tendering again.
Council expects the procurement process to be finalised in late 2025, after which it will confirm the preferred supplier.
Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at the time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information.