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Guidelines for the management of hazardous waste

Introduction to the Guidelines

Hazardous waste comes in many forms - ranging from sludges resulting from timber treatment processes to waste cellphone batteries. There is a significant risk to human health and the environment if hazardous wastes are improperly managed. To provide guidance to handlers of hazardous waste (i.e. generators, transporters, treatment and disposal operators), we decided to produce a set of Guidelines for the Management of Hazardous Waste - information and practical tools to achieve best practice in hazardous waste management.

The Guidelines will assist central and local government to achieve the targets in the New Zealand Waste Strategy (2002) for hazardous wastes:

  • By December 2005, an integrated and comprehensive national hazardous waste management policy will be in place that covers reduction, transport, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes to effectively manage risks to people and the environment.
  • By December 2004, hazardous wastes will be appropriately treated before disposal at licensed facilities, and current recovery and recycling rates will be established for a list of priority hazardous wastes.
  • Recovery and recycling rates for priority hazardous waste will increase 20 percent by December 2012.

The Guidelines will be developed as separate modules relating to different aspects of hazardous waste management (e.g. identification and record-keeping, landfill acceptance criteria). The purpose of the modules is to give practical guidance on how to implement elements of best practice hazardous waste management. We expect to update and modify the Guidelines as we work with councils and industry to implement the hazardous waste management policy, and any changes will be communicated through the Ministry website and the regular SIGnals e-newsletter.