Xtreme Waste

Xtreme Waste

Xtreme Waste Incorporated is a path-breaking community organisation in Raglan with a proud history of award-winning performance in resource recovery and recycling and in community projects focusing attention on the environmental benefits of waste minimisation.

With their landfill closing in 2000 the Raglan community saw the urgency in finding an alternative to transporting all their waste to a tip in the Waikato. After much community consultation Xtreme Waste was formed as an incorporated society to establish and manage a community waste collection and recycling centre. The centre was designed around the principles of zero waste to landfill as a core objective.

Since that date they have been operating the Raglan Transfer Station under contract to the Waikato District Council and have progressively recycled a greater volume of waste every year and now have a current diversion rate (from landfill) of over 70% of their community's total solid waste.

They have also provided a range of other services outside the council contract, including their recycle shop and community education around waste minimisation. These activities have relied heavily on grants and other fund-raising.

Xtreme Waste currently employs 24 part time staff and has won a number of awards over the past seven years, including the Waikato Business and Environment Award (the Paua Award) in 2002, the Waitakari City Council's "Change Catalyst" award in 2005, the Ministry for the Environment's Green Ribbon Award in 2006 and the Sustainable Business Network's "Social Responsibility Award" also in 2006.


Their financial well-being took a strong step forward when with support from the Community Business and Environment Centre (CBEC) of Kaitaia, Xtreme Waste negotiated a seven-year contract for services to the Waikato District Council. This contract has given them longer-term financial security and enabled the replacement of much of their older equipment with better quality plant and equipment that can provide a more efficient and better quality service.

Because of Prometheus' long-term relationship with CBEC, Xtreme Waste was encouraged to approach us for the finance needed for that equipment upgrade. The well-presented financial accounts for this community business, together with it's strong track record and proven commitment made it a relatively straightforward decision for us to approve this application.