Global fuel prices have increased significantly due to supply disruption. This is affecting many industries across New Zealand, including waste collection and transport. From April 2026, WM New Zealand will introduce a fuel surcharge across all services. If your contract provides a longer notice period, it will apply from that date instead.
We use publicly available data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to track fuel price movements. This ensures our fuel surcharge is based on an independent, transparent source. The surcharge is calculated on the average diesel price, using the ranges below as a guide.
| MBIE Board excl GST Price Range $ / L | Fuel Surcharge $ per tonne (Landfill) | |
| Redvale | Tirohia | |
| $1.70 – $1.89 | $0.68 | $0.81 |
| $1.90 – $2.09 | $1.13 | $1.35 |
| $2.10 – $2.29 | $1.59 | $1.89 |
| $2.30 – $2.49 | $2.04 | $2.44 |
| $2.50 – $2.69 | $2.50 | $2.98 |
| $2.70 – $2.89 | $2.95 | $3.52 |
| $2.90 – $3.09 | $3.40 | $4.06 |
| $3.10 – $3.29 | $3.86 | $4.60 |
| $3.30 – $3.49 | $4.31 | $5.14 |
| $3.50 – $3.69 | $4.77 | $5.68 |
| $3.70 – $3.89 | $5.22 | $6.22 |
| $3.90 - $4.09 | $5.67 | $6.77 |
We are working to reduce overall fuel use and manage costs, including:
We are continuing to deliver services as normal. We have plans in place to keep collections running and will prioritise services that protect public health and the environment if conditions change.
We can review your services to make these more efficient.
We can identify recycling solutions to reduce the total costs of your waste.
We can provide procurement and recovery advice that will reduce your waste to landfill.
Fuel is a core part of how we deliver our services, from collection trucks through to transport between sites. Recent global events have pushed fuel prices up sharply and quickly.
While we work hard to absorb normal fluctuations, the scale of this increase means we need to adjust pricing to continue delivering safe, reliable services.
The updated pricing will take effect from 1 May.
We use publicly available data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to track fuel price movements. This ensures our fuel surcharge is based on an independent, transparent source. The surcharge is calculated on the average diesel price, using the ranges below as a guide.
| MBIE Board excl GST Price Range $ / L | Fuel Surcharge % on Invoice |
| $1.70 – $1.89 | 0.64% |
| $1.90 – $2.09 | 1.20% |
| $2.10 – $2.29 | 1.75% |
| $2.30 – $2.49 | 2.31% |
| $2.50 – $2.69 | 2.86% |
| $2.70 – $2.89 | 3.42% |
| $2.90 – $3.09 | 3.98% |
| $3.10 – $3.29 | 4.53% |
| $3.30 – $3.49 | 5.09% |
| $3.50 – $3.69 | 5.64% |
| $3.70 – $3.89 | 6.20% |
| $3.90 - $4.09 | 6.75% |
| $4.10 - $4.29 | 7.31% |
| $4.30 - $4.49 | 7.87% |
| $4.50 - $4.69 | 8.42% |
We will continue to review the surcharge in line with fuel costs.
Waste collection is a transport-heavy service. Fuel is used across:
The current increase in fuel prices is significant and sustained, which directly impacts these areas.
Fuel markets are volatile and can change quickly. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and review pricing as conditions stabilise.
We review pricing in line with underlying cost changes. If fuel prices ease in a sustained way, we will take that into account in future pricing reviews.
We are actively managing the impact in a number of ways, including:
These steps help reduce the impact where we can, but they don’t fully offset the current fuel price increases.
Yes. This remains a priority. We have one of the largest electric heavy vehicle fleets in New Zealand and continue to invest in lower-emissions technology where it makes sense operationally and economically.
If you have any questions about your service or pricing, you can contact our team:
You don’t need to take any action. Your services will continue as normal.
Get in touch with our team of waste and recycling specialists for more information.
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