Dioxin Action Plan

Foreword

Executive Summary

Introduction

Taking Action on Dioxin

Why We Should Take Action

Sources of Discharges to Air

Actions for Waste Disposal Sources

Actions for Other Sources

Application of Actions

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Foreword

This dioxin action plan builds on the extensive work the Ministry has done through the Organochlorines Programme over the past six years and proposes a number of important actions that will reduce dioxin in our environment.

The dioxin action plan involves everybody. Almost as much dioxin is discharged to air from everyday activities (like burning waste in a backyard fire) as from industry. For some of us, reducing dioxin emissions will involve changing the habits of a lifetime and that is never easy. But this is our chance to make a difference and I invite you to look at the proposals and have your say.

In asking the Ministry for the Environment to develop ways to reduce dioxin in our environment, this Government aims to protect the health of all New Zealanders. We are fortunate that dioxin levels in New Zealand are relatively low, but this is not something we can be complacent about. The actions we take now will reduce dioxin exposures for our children and our children's children.

The plan proposes to reduce dioxin discharges to air through a National Environmental Standard (NES) that will:

• set dioxin discharge limits on waste incinerators, and
• ban landfill fires and the burning of household wastes.

This is the first NES regulation to be proposed under the Resource Management Act 1991.

New Zealand is part of the global initiative of the Stockholm persistent organic pollutants (POPs) Convention to reduce people's exposure to dioxin. The actions recommended in this plan will enable us to keep pace with our international partners under this Convention in reducing dioxin levels worldwide.

You can look at the dioxin action plan and other information, as well as make a submission to the plan on this website - http://www.dioxinplan.mfe.govt.nz. I invite you to take the time to have your say.

To protect our environment and our future, let's take action now.

Hon Marian L Hobbs
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT