Volume One 16. Waste [RPS, R] Objective 16.2 – Avoid, remedy or mitigate actual or potential adverse effects arising from solid waste management activities. Despite an objective of waste minimisation, there is still a need to dispose of the solid waste that remains once reuse, recycling and recovery efforts have been exhausted (“residual waste”). Given the nature of solid waste, its disposal in the local environment has the potential to create significant adverse effects. Contaminants present in the waste, or produced by the breakdown of the waste material, could adversely affect the soils at the site of the disposal and leach through these soils to underlying groundwater or to nearby surface water bodies. The breakdown of waste could also produce gases and create odour. It is therefore necessary that solid waste management activities be undertaken in a way that minimises the potential for such adverse effects. [RPS, R] Policy 16.2.1 – Continue to centralise solid waste disposal activities through the operation of a regional landfill and associated transfer stations. Inappropriate disposal methods or locations can give rise to significant adverse effects on the surrounding environment through odour, the discharge of contaminants to air, water and land, noise and traffic. Centralising solid waste management at a regional landfill avoids the need for disposal elsewhere in the Marlborough environment and helps to minimise the potential for these adverse effects. [RPS, R] Policy 16.2.2 – All residual waste shall be stored and disposed of in a manner that avoids or mitigates actual or potential adverse environmental effects. It is important that all storage and disposal of residual waste is managed in a manner that reflects best practice and minimises the impacts of the operations on the surrounding environment. This will see the Council, as a provider of waste collection and disposal facilities, and private operators complying with national guidelines for the storage and disposal of solid waste. As solid waste breaks down it produces gas and leachate, potential contaminants that can disperse into the surrounding environment. The Council will use regional rules to ensure that the actual or potential effects of these discharges are avoided or appropriately mitigated. [R] Policy 16.2.3 – Require resource consent for the establishment of cleanfills to ensure the appropriate disposal of waste. The nature and volume of waste disposed of in cleanfills can potentially have adverse environment effects on soils, water quality, amenity and cultural values. There are also concerns that cleanfills are seen as an ‘end-of-pipe’ solution to disposing of construction and demolition waste that could instead be reused or recycled. Requiring consent for this activity means the types and volumes of materials to be disposed of and the need for setbacks, soil sampling and erosion control measures can be assessed and regularly monitored. [R] Policy 16.2.4 – Enable the application of solid waste to land from the processing of primary products, the disposal of animal waste in offal pits, the disposal of biodegradable material in farm rubbish pits or the processing/storage of compost or silage, where: (a) this does not occur within a Groundwater Protection Area or into or onto soils identified as a Soil Sensitive Area as being at risk; and (b) standards for permitted activities are met. Marlborough’s economy is based on primary production activities, as reflected in Chapters 4 and 14 of the MEP. Much of the product generated from these activities is processed within Marlborough and there is a resultant production of organic waste material. In many cases, this 16 – 5