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Story: Sewage, water and waste

Refuse in landfills, 2004

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In 2004 the largest percentage of material entering landfills was organic. Organic and many other types of refuse have potential for composting or recycling. Many councils now offer the option of separate tipping of green waste and other waste. Reducing the amount going into landfills is important, as modern sanitary landfills are expensive.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Ministry for the Environment, Targets in the New Zealand waste strategy: 2006 review of progress. Wellington: Ministry for the Environment, 2007.

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How to cite this page

Christine Dann, Sewage, water and waste – Cleaning up dumps, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/24455/refuse-in-landfills-2004 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Christine Dann, published 12 April 2010.