Waste Disposal in New Zealand—Applying the Environmental Procedures

Abstract

A recent survey has shown that some 2 million tonnes of refuse are being disposed of each year to landfill in New Zealand. One-quarter of this refuse is industrial waste, whereas refuse from households accounts for nearly half of the total. Pilot surveys have produced preliminary figures leading to an estimate that there may be about 23,000 tonnes per year of wastes which could be regarded as hazardous.

Statutes which provide for the management and disposal of wastes, the planning of refuse facilities, and the handling of hazardous materials are listed together with environmental enhancement and protection procedures which require a process of environmental impact assessment for projects, such as new landfill sites which will have significant environmental impacts.

The way that wastes are managed is illustrated by examining the disposal of three different types of solid wastes: metropolitan refuse wastes arising from a new petrochemical industry based on natural gas and waste polychlorinated biphenyl oils.