Residents protected as Kempsey landfill reaches capacity

Published on 12 April 2023

Kempsey Shire Council is ensuring minimal impact as it temporarily closes the landfill at the Kempsey Waste Management Centre.

The current landfill at the site on Crescent Head Road has reached capacity and a new landfill is under construction. As such landfill waste will be sent to facilities outside of the Shire in the coming weeks.

This will have no impact on kerbside bin services, nor on residents bringing most waste to the facility.

Residents can still drop off their recycling and their green waste and domestic bin collections will continue to operate as normal. There will however be some impact on commercial waste services.

Council General Manager, Craig Milburn said Council is working to minimise the impact on residents and local waste companies until the new landfill is operational.

"Managing waste responsibly is a key priority for Council, we are committed to finding a sustainable solution for the long-term benefit of our community and the environment and we have long term planning in place, including a Waste Management Strategy which is going to our next Council meeting,” said Mr Milburn.

“Unfortunately, construction of a new landfill cell at the site in Crescent Head was delayed due a range of factors including weather and supply chain issues. Construction is continuing and we are working to have it online as soon as possible.”

“Residents should see no impact from this, but we acknowledge that businesses that normally dispose of commercial or construction waste at the facility will be impacted to some extent,” said Mr Milburn.

It is business as usual for the waste transfer station and community recycling centre at the Kempsey Waste Management Centre.

The centre will however no longer accept asbestos, nor loads of ‘commercial and industrial’ or ‘construction and demolition’ waste in skips larger than 9 cubic metres.

Residents can still drop off for free any items that don’t belong in their yellow bin but can be recycled.

Eligible drumMuster containers and items that can be reused or repurposed like bricks, concrete and soil will continue to be accepted.  

The Kempsey Waste Management Centre on Crescent Head Road is open every day except Christmas Day.

For more information about opening times visit ksc.pub/wmc