Chapter 14 - Discharges of Waste to Land 14.0 Discharges of Waste to Land 14.1 Introduction This chapter of the Plan addresses the management of all adverse environmental effects that may arise from discharging solid or liquid waste to land. These effects include water and soil contamination, disruption to land ecosystems and reduction of amenity values. 14.2 Issue The discharge of solid and liquid waste into or onto land that affects the potential or life-supporting capacity of land or has adverse effects on the environment. Whenever waste is discharged to land there is the potential that contaminants from that waste will leach into groundwater or be carried by run-off into surface water. In the Marlborough Sounds area surface and groundwater act as individual or community sources of water. Therefore, it is vital that water is not contaminated by waste so that it continues to meet the water quality standard set. The Marlborough Regional Policy Statement sets water quality at the level necessary for the sustainable management of freshwater and coastal ecosystems. Rural activities may result in chemical contaminants entering freshwater and being carried to the Marlborough Sounds marine environment. Run-off carrying nutrients and chemicals could have significant adverse effects on freshwater or marine environments. A discharge of waste to land can contaminate the soil which can have a significant adverse effect on soil quality with a consequent adverse effect on land productivity. Contamination of soil reduces opportunities for land use and places the costs of restoration on future generations. The discharge of waste to land may disrupt land ecosystems. Land ecosystems rely on interactions between the physical, chemical and organic components of the soil to create a system which is able to sustain the use, development and protection of the land. In Marlborough, the community relies on the use, development and protection of the land for cultural, social and economic wellbeing. The discharge of solid or liquid waste to land may adversely affect amenity values if it causes windblown rubbish, dust, odour, reduced air quality, or attracts vermin or has adverse visual impacts. The management of waste disposal must seek to avoid, remedy or mitigate all adverse effects where they affect the sustainable management of the resources of the Marlborough Sounds. The Marlborough Regional Policy Statement seeks to avoid, remedy or mitigate the effects of waste through reducing waste production, reusing the constituents of waste, recycling waste products, and recovering components from waste products. 14 - 1