Chapter 15 - Discharge of Contaminants to Land Investigation To investigate and identify improved methods for treating human effluent in unsewered towns and rural residential areas particularly those sites located over the unconfined aquifer. Liaison Liaise with rural land owners and Landcare Groups to encourage improved riparian management adjacent to water bodies with high value or where the existing water quality requires enhancement. Enforcement To issue abatement notices and enforcement orders where the discharge of contaminants creates any significant adverse effect that is not permitted through a resource consent. Rules are required to ensure that significant adverse effects on water, soil quality and amenity values are avoided, remedied or mitigated. However, many landuse activities are difficult to control or enforce by rules and as such require other methods, primarily education, liaison and incentives to achieve a desired attitude change. Monitoring is important as an education tool to provide better information on the effects of non-point source discharges on water quality. Investigation is required to deal with the complex problem of contamination which arises from poorly functioning on-site sewage treatment systems. Objective 2 To significantly reduce the quantity of contaminants discharged to land. Policy 2.1 To encourage all organisations and individuals who discharge contaminants to land to adopt principles of waste minimisation and cleaner production by: • Reducing the quantity or toxicity of the discharge by using resources more efficiently; and • Reusing, recycling and recovering materials from the waste stream. Policy 2.2 To promote the composting of organic and plant material. Policy 2.3 To ensure that any adverse environmental effects associated with composting are avoided by subjecting the activity to appropriate land use and discharge controls. Growth in the Marlborough economy has led to an increase in the quantity and toxicity of contaminants being discharged to land. One of the most effective ways of reducing the environmental effects associated with such contaminants is to reduce the volume or toxicity of material generated for disposal. Using Cleaner Production Systems is an effective method of reducing waste either by preventing its generation or reducing its volume or toxicity. The Environmental Management Challenge and other industry and public education programmes are designed to promote cleaner production and achieve a reduction in waste. Recent waste surveys in Marlborough show that approximately 40-60% of the Marlborough solid waste stream is compostable. Compostable waste includes garden material, fish waste, organic kitchen scraps and untreated sawdust. Controlled composting is an excellent way of reducing the effects associated with the disposal of waste because it creates a valuable resource that can be used for fertiliser or soil enhancer for home gardens, forestry, agriculture, horticulture, and viticulture. The 15 - 5