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Background information (section 1-3 in the Guide)

Legislation

Relevant legislation for closed landfills in New Zealand includes:

  • The Resource Management Act 1991 - resource consents
  • The Health Act 1956 - health risk and nuisance
  • The Local Government Act 1974 - waste management planning including post closure
  • The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
  • The Building Act 1991 - settlement affecting buildings

Resource consents

The establishment of a landfill under the RMA may require a number of consents from both the relevant Regional Council and Territorial Authority. These are likely to include:

  • Regional Council or Unitary Authority
    • Discharge Permits - Discharge of contaminants to land, air or water
    • Water Permit - the taking, use, damming or diverting of water
    • Land-use consent - excavation or filling of land, install bores or culverts
    • Coastal permit - if the site is in the coastal marine area
  • District or City Council
    • Landuse consent - use of the land for the purposes of a landfill
    • Subdivision consent - this may be necessary if the project involves any creation of new allotments, amalgamation of titles, vesting of roads or reserves, or partition of the land into different ownerships.

Landfill processes

The rate of leachate generation is affected by a number of factors, including:

  • waste type, composition (water content) and compacted density
  • climate (including rainfall)
  • topography
  • landfill cover
  • vegetation
  • groundwater influences.

The rate of landfill gas generation varies and is affected by a number of factors, including:

  • waste type and composition, especially the amount of biodegradable materials
  • waste density
  • moisture content and pH
  • temperature.

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Last updated: 17 September 2007