The Oamaru landfill is being capped in preparation for closure in April.
The Waitaki District Council originally budgeted to spend almost $1 million on the closure, but new technology, including GPS-guided machinery and land modelling software, has resulted in a saving of about $100,000.
Under its resource consent to operate the landfill, the council has to meet conditions to close it and then has to maintain and monitor the closed landfill for another 20 years, at a cost of about $16,000 a year.
Assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said the capping project was necessary work to ensure resource consent and public health requirements were met.
Funds for the work had been collected through landfill charges.
Up to the end of June, $274,000 had been spent from the capping budget.
