16. Waste Volume One waste is disposed of through a variety of means as set out in the policy. Primary production waste disposal has the potential to create adverse environmental effects if undertaken in a certain location or in an uncontrolled manner. Potential adverse effects include degradation of surface and groundwater quality through infiltration and runoff, soil contamination, disruption to land ecosystems and reduction of amenity values. Therefore, the policy states that standards have been set to provide thresholds at which the adverse effects from a discharge to land must be avoided or mitigated. Additionally, there are some identified locations where groundwater and soil resources are potentially at risk. In these areas a resource consent will be required to assess the risk. [R] Policy 16.2.5 – Where resource consent is required for the discharge of solid waste to land from primary production activities, decision makers shall consider the following matters in deciding whether or not to grant consent and whether conditions can be imposed to avoid or mitigate any adverse effects on the environment: (a) the soil characteristics at the discharge location and whether the nature and volume of waste to be discharged will adversely affect soil structure; (b) where the discharge is within a Groundwater Protection Area or into or onto soil identified as a Soil Sensitive Area, the risks to groundwater, surface waterbodies or soil quality; (c) contamination of freshwater resulting from nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) and organic nutrients (BOD) through leaching, runoff and/or direct discharge; (d) the proximity of the discharge location to waterbodies with a high natural character or to waterbodies identified as having degraded water quality that needs to be enhanced through Policies 15.1.4 to 15.1.7 in Chapter 15 - Resource Quality (Water, Air, Soil); and (e) the potential for reduced amenity values due to odour, vermin or visual effects from the discharge, particularly where this occurs in close proximity to residentially zoned land. While the organic material generated from primary production activities can be used for a variety of beneficial purposes such as stock feed, soil conditioners and composting, it is still important that this is undertaken at appropriate locations and within appropriate limits. When different types of waste are discharged to land, the soil effectively becomes part of the treatment system, with contaminants in the waste being broken down or absorbed as the leachate passes through the soil. Marlborough’s soil is diverse, resulting in a variation in the treatment capacity across the District. Understanding this variation is critical in avoiding the adverse effects of discharging contaminants to land. This is why discharges to land for areas identified as a Soil Sensitive Area require resource consent to enable a detailed assessment of the appropriateness of the discharge in these locations. There is also potential for the discharge of contaminants to have significant adverse environmental effects over the unconfined Wairau Aquifer, where contaminants within leachate can more easily enter the aquifer. Given the significance of the Wairau Aquifer for the supply of community drinking water, it is important that activities located over the unconfined Wairau Aquifer are subject to more detailed assessment, which is why there are specific resource consent requirements for areas identified as Groundwater Protection Areas. Discharges close to waterways can also create the potential for leachate to enter waterways, affecting water quality and instream habitats. Activities located adjacent to high value surface water resources or surface water resources that require enhancement will also attract greater consideration to enable water quality to be maintained or enhanced. 16 – 6