16. Waste Volume One such solid wastes, it is important that there other options are available for safe disposal of such solid wastes. Waste management in the Marlborough Sounds and in isolated parts of South Marlborough presents a considerable challenge. Providing opportunities to minimise solid waste and offering a collection and disposal service for residual solid waste to those who reside or holiday in more remote locations (in many cases, without road access) is difficult, due to the cost and practicality of providing these services. Solid waste is also generated on the considerable number of boats using the Marlborough Sounds. Some people have responded to these challenges of isolation by disposing of their solid waste on-site, especially where the waste is generated on farms (e.g. rubbish and offal pits). There is also the risk of illegal dumping of solid waste on river reserves and roadsides. Illegal dumping has significant environmental implications and can result in the contamination of land and water resources (creating a public health hazard) and the potential for the spread of plant pests from green waste. It is also unsightly in areas that are usually visually appealing. [RPS, R] Objective 16.1 – Reduce the amount of solid waste generated in Marlborough. The obvious response to Issue 16A is to reduce the amount of solid waste generated in Marlborough. Reducing wastage and/or treating waste as a potential resource for reuse, recycling or recovery are ways in which patterns can be changed. Reducing the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of in the environment also reduces the potential for adverse effects on the quality of our land, water and air resources. [RPS] Policy 16.1.1 – Encourage waste minimisation practices by establishing a waste management hierarchy that ensures waste is managed in the following order of priority: (a) promoting lower levels of solid waste generation; then (b) promoting higher levels of reuse, recycling and recovery of solid waste; then (c) disposal of residual solid waste. The Council places priority on reducing waste at source, as this is the most efficient and effective way of minimising waste. This priority is reflected in the hierarchy of actions within the policy. Successful waste minimisation relies on households, businesses and industries all actively participating in community efforts to reduce the amount of solid waste produced in the first place and then, in terms of the solid waste that is produced, reusing, recycling and recovering as much of that as possible. The Council seeks to take advantage of changing community attitudes by making it easier to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover solid waste. To do so, it is important that there are good systems in place to help people to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover the solid waste currently generated in homes, businesses, industries and on rural properties. Waste minimisation initiatives may vary depending on the waste and the community being served. People need to be informed about how to access and utilise each initiative. Education on waste minimisation is therefore important for all sectors of the community. There is limited ability for the Council to influence production processes, as most consumer goods are imported into Marlborough, so promotion efforts will focus instead on influencing consumer choice. Packaging is an issue in terms of waste generation, but so too is the ease of replacing products. By making people aware of the consequences of their purchasing choices in terms of waste generation, it is hoped that people will subsequently make better choices. 16 – 2