Farms and orchards can get rid hazardous waste

Tuesday 14 February 2006

Households, farms and orchards can get rid hazardous waste

Bay of Plenty households will have the chance soon to get rid of their old paints, poisons and pesticides - safely.

Environment Bay of Plenty and local district and city councils are bringing the HazMobile, a free household hazardous waste collection service, to six centres in the eastern and western Bay of Plenty.

Between March and May, The HazMobile will set up for a day each in Tauranga, Katikati, Murupara, Te Kaha, Kawerau and Whakatane.

The HazMobile serviced more than to 1000 loads of hazardous waste when it visited the region last year but Environment Bay of Plenty’s Paul Futter expects it to be even busier this time.

“Many sheds and garages are full of quite hazardous junk,” he says. “Often, people don’t know what to do with it because they realise they can’t put it out with the normal rubbish. So they really appreciate having the opportunity to safely dispose of it.”

This year, the service will visit a number of small, rural communities for the first time. “We’ve trawled some of the urban centres, and the rural areas near them, quite heavily over the past two years. However, we are not so confident that we’ve collected the worst of the toxic products from the more outlying areas,” Mr Futter explains.

He hopes rural residents will make the most of the opportunity. “It’s a good time to get rid of containers of agrichemicals that are now banned or obsolete. They can pose a serious environmental or health risk and you really don’t want them lying around your property.”

Hazardous waste stored in a house, garage or farm shed can be dangerous both to the environment and to people’s health.

“Sometimes materials can react with each other and cause a fire or create toxic fumes. A container may leak and contaminate the soil or groundwater, and ultimately streams, rivers, lakes and the ocean.”

The Hazmobile will accept hazardous materials like solvents and paint strippers, glues, all types of garden chemicals and cleaners, batteries and even old gas cylinders. However, it is not allowed to accept medical waste or explosives and cannot transport materials containing asbestos. It also does not take waste from commercial operators.

Mr Futter asks people bringing material to the HazMobile to make sure all containers are in good condition so they travel safely. “Please check for holes and leaky lids and transport them upright and secured so they cannot fall over. Leaking containers must be re-contained first in buckets with a lid or inside plastic or glass containers that can be sealed. Please label the container clearly.”

For more information, contact your district or city council or Environment Bay of Plenty on 0800 ENV BOP (368 267) or go to www.envbop.govt.nz.

The HazMobile will not be stopping off in Rotorua this year. Instead, Rotorua district residents can take any household hazardous waste to the hazardous waste facility at the Rotorua landfill.

HazMobile Visits
Tauranga Maleme Street Transfer Station, Greerton 10am to 2pm Saturday 4 March
(Please note: No general or green waste or recycling will be received on that day)
Katikati Talisman Drive Carpark 10am to 2pm Saturday 18 March
Murupara Murupara Transfer Station, Harakeke Rd 10am to 2pm Saturday 29 April
Te Kaha Te Kaha Resource Recovery Facility, SH35 10am to 2pm Friday 5 May
Kawerau Kawerau Transfer Station 10am to 2pm Saturday 13 May
Whakatane Whakatane Recycling Park 10am to 2pm Saturday 27 May

ENDS

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