SIRRL has stated that they have agreements in place to source the 365,000 tonnes of needed annually to fuel the proposed Waimate incinerator. The company has also stated that 50% of the waste to be burnt will be municipal solid waste sourced mainly from Christchurch (71%), Dunedin (15%) and Central Otago (14%)

The vast amount of MSW waste generated from those districts is collected and disposed of at three landfills at least partly owned by councils, these include Kate Valley Landill, Green Island Landfill, and Victoria Flats Landfill. Councils have contracts with waste management companies for the collection, sorting and disposal of MSW waste. These landfills generate revenue for councils, therefore, contracts are subject to disposal points. 

Why Waste Waimate has made Official Information Act requests for communication between all of the South Island’s councils and South Island Resource Recovery Limited (SIRRL) including its shareholder company Renew Energy Limited (REL). These requests have included any discussions or agreements with councils to provide waste to SIRRL/REL for any proposed waste incinerator. 

These LGOIMA responses can be viewed below.

Most of the council’s contacted have been open about any interactions with SIRRL/REL. However, there are exceptions including Marlborough District Council. 

If a council is listed below without any link, it means that council’s LGOIMA request returned no material or communication with SIRRL or its shareholder company Renew Energy Limted.