Dunedin local government meeting

18 October 2005

National Environmental Standards

Are there any National Environmental Standards developed for indoor air quality? There is a problem with unflued gas heaters.
Orchards are burning wood waste and this is contributing to air toxins. The fire ban during summer months emphasises winter smog.

Copper and Zinc in wastewater sludge is unsustainable. Is there a relationship between drinking water quality and biosolids?
Councils have difficulties monitoring the levels of non-point sources in catchment areas.

DDT levels are quite high for residential areas with access to soil. Lifestyle blocks are not considered in the proposed standard.

Stormwater quality has been improved by better subdivision design.
The problem with small communities is that they are not connected to septic tanks.

Waste strategy implementation and associated costs are a significant issue and disincentive to small councils. Targeting businesses for waste reduction can be difficult. Legislation is required as voluntary schemes are not working. Key drivers are bottom line and marketing point of difference.
MFE needs to put the waste strategy into legislation.

We need to consider alternatives for recycling and re-use of products (e.g. use of standardised plastic products to assist recycling and plastic to diesel conversion for fuel etc.).
We need incentives to use recycled materials (e.g. glass bottles are now too thin to be cleaned and reused).
There should be future initiatives for recycling (e.g. organic collection).
The costs involved with recycling could be lowered (e.g. reduction at source will save money).

Who polices compliance with waste regulations? Who checks upon poor practice?
There is a need for the MFE to be able to supply good quality information on who does what – For example where do you go if you need information especially with respect to waste issues.
The MFE could have a role in providing territorial local authorities with good quality information on specialist topics that they are unlikely to come across very often.
Information needs to be publicised through a variety of sources (e.g. industry, council, environment centre and websites etc.)

There needs to be consistency across the National Environmental Standards (e.g. biosolids, landfill and contaminated land etc.)
Industry should take responsibility for its product (i.e. product stewardship).

Last updated: 17 September 2007