Zero Waste: National Environment Standards

The New Zealand Government has recently approved the first ever national environmental standards aimed at air quality and controlling landfill gas emissions.  The Ministry for the Environment is now working with local government on implementation programmes to achieve the standards.  The first standards come into effect on 1 October 2004, banning specific activities that discharge dioxins and other toxics to air. 

The standards will prohibit the following activities:

• Burning of coated wire in the open;
• Deliberate landfill fires;
• Burning of tyres in the open;
• Burning of road tar seal;
• Burning of waste oil in the open;
• All new high temperature hazardous waste incinerators;
• New low temperature waste incinerators that do not have a resource consent by 2008;
• Existing low temperature waste incinerators in schools and hospitals that do not have a resource consent.

From September 2005, the design standard for new wood burners in urban areas applies.  From October 2006, school and hospital incinerators will be banned unless they obtain resource consent. 

For more information on the new standards go to; www.mfe.govt.nz/laws/rma/standards/index.html .