End of the road for two rural rubbish collection points

Far North District Council will close the Unahi Road and Kumi Road rural waste collection points from the end of May as part of moves to provide safer, fairer and more environmentally responsible waste services across Te Hiku ward.

The last rubbish collection at the Kumi Road site will be on Wednesday 27 May, and the final collection at Unahi Road will be on Friday 29 May.

From 1 June 2026, residents in these areas will move to a kerbside rubbish collection service using prepaid refuse bags. Prepaid bags will be collected from the end of your driveway from 1 June. Residents can get in touch with Northland Waste regarding getting a recycling kerbside collection through a subscription. The Awanui Refuse Transfer Station at 94 State Highway 1 accepts recycling and is located close to both collection points.

Te Hiku Community Board confirmed that the waste collection points should be closed during its April 7 meeting and is part of a wider review of rural waste collection sites across Te Hiku ward aimed at providing more sustainable waste services and reducing illegal dumping.

Closure of the two sites follows ongoing problems with illegal dumping, environmental damage and safety risks. Strong winds and heavy rain have spread unsecured waste into surrounding areas and roadsides at both collection points in the past and decomposing rubbish has also leached into soils and nearby waterways.

Both sites are located on state highways and are increasingly being used for bulky and general waste that should not be left at rural collection points. Aside from environmental impacts, this illegal tipping creates an eyesore for locals and visitors. The council will continue to monitor the sites after their closure and will deploy surveillance cameras to collect evidence against those illegally dumping rubbish at the sites.