Spicer Landfill Upgrade Improves Performance

Porirua City’s Spicer Landfill has been upgraded to extend its life and improve its environmental performance.

A staged expansion of the landfill within its current boundary will extend its life to at least 2045. Major environmental work has also been done to control discharges of greenhouse gases, storm water and leachate from the landfill.

“Significant work has been done at Spicer Landfill to ensure it not only services our city for longer but also meets todays’ environmental standards. This means we can provide a good city service that is environmentally sustainable,” says Waste Treatment Plant and Landfill Joint Committee Chairperson Tim Sheppard.

Spicer landfill is jointly owned by Porirua City Council (78.5%) and Wellington City Council (21.5%). It was developed in 1976 with a life expectancy of just 30 to 40 years.

Cllr Sheppard says a decision was made to invest in the future of Spicer Landfill to improve its environmental performance and keep it open for longer.
Work carried out includes carefully sealing the landfill areas and upgrading gas, stormwater, sediment and leachate control and monitoring systems.
That work is now complete and the first stage opened this month.

A spin-off of reducing gas emissions from the landfill is that the joint Councils will face lower emissions costs when the Emissions Trading Scheme takes effect in January 2013.

Landfill access, traffic circulation and safety have also been improved and a new weighbridge and kiosk are in place. Planning is now underway for further environmental improvements and subsequent expansion phases.

ENDS

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