1 Background
1.1 Purpose
The National Landfill Census brings together information on all operating landfill sites in New Zealand. The census is undertaken at regular intervals, with previous surveys in 1995, 1998/99 and 2002. The reports are used to indicate the state of play of landfill operations in New Zealand.
Survey information feeds directly into work to assess whether targets in the New Zealand Waste Strategy (NZWS) (Ministry for the Environment, 2002b) are being met. The NZWS sets the strategic direction for waste policy in this country. The goals of the Strategy are to:
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lower the costs and risks of waste to society
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reduce environmental damage from the generation and disposal of waste
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increase economic benefit by using material resources more efficiently.
The most recent assessment of progress towards the NZWS targets is provided in the report Targets in the New Zealand Waste Strategy: 2006 Review of Progress (Ministry for the Environment, 2007). Information from this census was used in the preparation of the targets in the 2006 Review of Progress report.
1.2 Good practice for landfills in New Zealand
Six documents endorsed by central government provide guidance on good practice in managing New Zealand landfills. Three of these guidelines are especially important for operating landfills, and they are briefly described below.
1.2.1 Landfill guidelines
The Ministry for the Environment endorses the Landfill Guidelines (Centre for Advanced Engineering, 1992) as good practice in landfill design, siting and operation in New Zealand. There have been a number of updates to these guidelines, the most recent in 2000. The guidelines advocate:
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siting landfills on a clay base
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using an engineered liner system
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collecting, treating and/or using leachate, stormwater and landfill gas
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having controls on the types of waste accepted for disposal
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monitoring the discharges from the site
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ensuring adequate separation from sensitive receiving environments (such as surface water and groundwater).
1.2.2 Hazardous waste guidelines
The Hazardous Waste Guidelines: Landfill Waste Acceptance Criteria and Landfill Classification (Ministry for the Environment, 2004a) are used to determine whether a waste is acceptable for disposal at a specific landfill. The guidelines offer two things: a method for classifying landfills into two classes based on the level of natural and engineered containment, and best practice guidance on waste acceptance criteria for these two landfill classes (that is, what hazardous waste can be accepted at each class).
1.2.3 Landfill full cost accounting guide
The Landfill Full Cost Accounting Guide for New Zealand (Ministry for the Environment, 1996) helps decision-makers implement a full cost accounting approach to landfills. Landfill planning, development, operation, closure and after care are all taken into consideration. In 2004 the guide was updated to include:
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provision for multiple liner designs
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the ability to ramp charges over time
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the ability to forecast annual waste quantity
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additional reporting tools (Ministry for the Environment, 2004b).
The other good practice guidelines for landfills include:
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The Hazards of Burning at Landfills (Ministry for the Environment, 1997a)
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A Guide to the Management of Closing and Closed Landfills in New Zealand (Ministry for the Environment, 2001b)
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A Guide to Landfill Consent Conditions (Ministry for the Environment, 2001a).
1.3 Previous reports
1.3.1 1995 National Landfill Census
The 1995 National Landfill Census Report (Ministry for the Environment, 1997b) was the first of its kind. It was undertaken four years after the RMA came into effect, which meant many landfill sites had yet to transfer from former legislative controls.
The following were identified by the Census as areas for future attention:
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address RMA compliance
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develop a definition and acceptance criteria for hazardous and special wastes
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further develop national landfill guidelines
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provide more information on the effects of, and means to control, landfill burning
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training programmes for landfill operators.
As a result of the 1995 census, the Ministry for the Environment developed the following additions to the 1992 landfill guidelines:
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the Landfill Full Cost Accounting Guide for New Zealand
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The Hazards of Burning at Landfills.
1.3.2 1998/99 National Landfill Census
The 1998/99 National Landfill Census Report (Ministry for the Environment, 2000) showed improvements in landfill practice from the 1995 census. More landfills had consent to operate, there was less open burning at landfills and an increase in operator training. However, there were also some gaps in hazardous waste management, levels of compliance and management of closed sites.
To address these issues, the Ministry for the Environment produced a number of guidance documents, including:
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A Guide to the Management of Closing and Closed Landfill in New Zealand
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A Guide to Landfill Consent Conditions
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A Guide to the Management of Cleanfills (Ministry for the Environment, 2002a)
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updates to The Landfill Full Cost Accounting Guide
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updates to The Landfill Guidelines.
1.3.3 2002 Landfill Review and Audit
The 2002 Landfill Review and Audit (Ministry for the Environment, 2003) took a different approach from the previous two surveys. In addition to the usual questions, a landfill rapid-screening system was used to assess the risks associated with landfills across New Zealand. It found there was a trend towards improved siting, design and operation of landfills across the country. In addition to this, older operations had improved their practices and there was a gradual replacement of older landfills with modern facilities.
However, the audit also found that some landfills given resource consent to operate before the RMA came into effect could legally operate until after 2020, regardless of siting, design and operation.
Since the 2002 audit the Ministry for the Environment has produced the following guidance:
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updates to the Landfill Full Cost Accounting Guide for New Zealand
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Hazardous Waste Guidelines: Landfill Waste Acceptance Criteria and Landfill Classification.
