Council opened New Zealand’s first dedicated heavy Electric Vehicle (EV) charging hub at a landfill, marking an important milestone in the transition to lower-emissions waste services.
Located at Silverstream Landfill, the charging hub supports an electric loader and electric kerbside collection trucks, replacing diesel-powered vehicles. Switching from a conventional 20-tonne diesel loader operating at the landfill to an electric loader is expected to reduce those emissions by around 80–90 percent, depending on the electricity source.
The project was supported by $500,000 in co-funding from the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA).
The new charging infrastructure is already being used by Waste Management’s electric loader and electric kerbside collection trucks and has capacity to support additional electric vehicles and machinery as Council continues to reduce emissions across its waste operations.
As New Zealand’s first heavy EV charging hub at a landfill, the project demonstrates Council’s commitment to practical climate action and investing in infrastructure that supports essential services while reducing emissions.
By enabling the shift to electric heavy vehicles, the charging hub will help lower operating emissions, improve the resilience of waste services and create opportunities for further electrification in the years ahead. It also provides a model for other councils and organisations looking to decarbonise heavy transport and essential public services.
This investment supports Council’s wider goal of building a cleaner, more resilient future while continuing to deliver reliable waste services for the community.