Southland's main landfill operators will front up to neighbours tomorrow over seeking permission to bury more than 100,000 tonnes of waste there each year.

AB Lime Ltd, which owns the waste dump at Kings Bend near Winton, has applied for a new 35-year resource consent. 

It plans to make it "the premier landfill for the southern regions of the South Island".  

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But that will require a new consent from regulator Environment Southland, removing any annual limit on the amount of waste it receives.  

There is a massive amount of unused capacity at the landfill. It opened 17 years ago, with a capacity of 24.9 million cubic metres. 

So far, only 1 million cubic metres have been filled.

Some locals are concerned about a huge increase in operations and perceived impacts if the consent is approved. 

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Lyndal Sinclair, who lives nearby, says: "They've got 100,000 tonnes at the moment, but they want to lift the cap so it's unlimited. 

"They say by doing so, it's going to be a lot of good that will come out of it.

"But really, you've got more risk in the community, especially health-wise, because you've got the pollutants in the air, the leachate in the waterways." 

Sinclair says all the nearby neighbours are opposed to the plan and will make their feelings known at tomorrow's meeting. 

"My husband reckons they'll smooth me over with their science, but we're gatekeepers to the land, so I'm going to dig my toes in."  

Landfill general manager Steve Smith says the consent will actually lead to better environmental outcomes, as the standards for Class 1 landfills have increased since the original consent was granted. 

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"There will be higher standards that we will need to meet should our application be successful," Smith says.

"Ultimately, these will lead to better environmental outcomes by reducing odour, reducing leachate generation, and improving landfill gas capture." 

Smith says the company can demonstrate that environmental effects are "not necessarily correlated to the amount of waste accepted", and he says it's the same for odour. 

Environmental Southland's report on the 1,400-page application has flagged what is considered "non-compliance with the National Air Quality Standards 2004" over landfill gas management. 

But the principal consents officer Bruce Halligan considers this a matter for the existing consent, rather than the new one. 

Smith says the company has proposed a new framework to deal with odour, an 'adaptive management framework' common to modern landfills. 

"Through this framework we can continue implement improvements in technology to minimise environmental effects."

The removal of the tonnage limit will help futureproof the landfill, he adds, and ensure the company can accept waste in emergency and crisis scenarios, as it has from recent bonamia and mycoplasma bovis outbreaks. 

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The majority of waste it accepts at the moment comes from Southland ratepayers and other industrial businesses in the lower south, and on occasion from various Government agencies. 

About 18% of the waste is received from outside of Southland. Smith says if the application is approved the "majority of the waste will continue to be accepted from Southland". 

There is no anticipated annual tonnage, but he expects to push close to the 100,000 tonne per annum cap in the coming years. It is likely to increase in future years.

At the current rate, it wouldn't be filled until 2259.

"The landfill footprint will not change as part of this application, and by continuously improving existing practises we see this application as a better alternative to another landfill at a greenfield site."

Sinclair is one of seven people who have made submissions and will attend Thursday's meeting at Winton RSA Hall. It will be chaired by an independent facilitator and isn't open to the public. 

Environment Southland experts believe the impacts will be localised, so has processed the application on a 'limited notified' basis. That means only people living within a 2km radius get to have a say on it. Winton is 5km away. 

Environment Southland identified 19 affected people. 

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Te Ao Marama Incorporated and Hokonui Runanga Incorporated will also be included in the limited notified parties due to the potential for cultural effects. 

Sinclair says: "I think the average person who lives in this district and breathes the same air should know what's going on. 

"Winton people should know. 

"I don't think we're going to be able to do much on our own. They're giants and we don't have the resources." 

Smith says the decision over notification is made by Environment Southland, but the company is "listening to the concerns that have been raised through the submission process". 

"Along with the neighbours, we are also particularly interested in the views on our application of Te Ao Marama, and Hokonui Runanga."