Volume One 16. Waste 16. Waste Introduction Wastes are unwanted solids and liquids that are to be discarded or discharged. The amount of waste disposed of in Marlborough has steadily increased, mostly due to an increasing population, economic growth and increasing consumer demand. Disposing of waste uses land and resources that would otherwise be available for other purposes. Waste disposal also incurs a cost to communities and the environment. When an item enters the waste stream, the environmental effects vary depending on the nature of the waste, the method of disposal and the nature of the receiving environment. Effects previously experienced include localised contamination of soil and water resources and nuisance problems, such as litter and odour. Uncontrolled waste disposal also has significant health implications for people and communities. Avoiding waste altogether would be the best way to avoid the costs to people and the environment. However, not all waste can be avoided and management of waste is necessary to ensure that the costs and effects on the environment are minimised. The Council exercises waste management functions under multiple pieces of legislation. The focus of this chapter of the Marlborough Environment Plan (MEP) is to set a framework for addressing Marlborough’s significant waste management issues under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). In addition to waste minimisation, the chapter focusses on the way in which the Council exercises its function of controlling the discharge of contaminants into the environment. Issue 16A – Large quantities of solid waste are generated in Marlborough. Solid waste is made up of materials and resources that are no longer wanted or needed and volumes have continued to rise in Marlborough due to increases in population, growth in local industries and the production of more packaging and single use items. Approximately 40,000 tonnes of solid waste is disposed of annually at the regional landfill. The large quantity of solid waste produced in Marlborough represents an inefficient use of natural and physical resources. Unmanaged, this volume of solid waste also has implications for the environment in terms of contaminating land, water and air resources. For this reason, the Council provides waste collection services (through kerbside waste collection in urban areas and transfer stations) and a regional landfill for safe disposal. Even when solid waste is managed in this co-ordinated and centralised way, it is still necessary to collect and manage the gas and leachate caused by the decomposition and breakdown of waste within the landfill. The Council has invested heavily in alternatives to landfill over the past decade, for example by establishing a hazardous waste collection facility (2004), recycling facilities at the transfer stations (2008), the Resource Recovery Centre in Blenheim (2009), a reuse centre in Blenheim (2010), a salvage yard and e-waste collection facility in Blenheim (2012) and the expansion of recycling and reuse options across the transfer stations (2014). Further work is underway to establish a commercial and industrial sorting facility. These waste minimisation initiatives have extended the life of the regional landfill. This is particularly relevant given the difficulties in finding suitable sites for (and the costs of) establishing new landfills. The regional landfill cannot take all solid wastes and was deliberately designed not to cater for many forms of hazardous waste. Given the threat to human health and the environment posed by 16 – 1