Contaminated waste headache
Canterbury’s biggest landfill is the likely new home for 6500 tonnes of contaminated waste from a Christchurch fertiliser plant, after a deal to bury it on the West Coast fell through.
Reefton-based Rosco Contracting had applied to the West Coast Regional Council for resource consent to take up to 12,000 cubic metres of material stockpiled at the Hornby manufacturing site of fertiliser company Ravensdown.
The waste, mainly contaminated soil and asbestos fragments, was to have been buried in sealed pods at a private dump on the outskirts of the small town.
But the regional council confirmed on April 30 both parties had pulled out.
A spokesman for Ravensdown said it has 6500 tonnes of waste on site that needs to be disposed of.
‘‘Options are severely limited and like just about every other business in Canterbury with demolition or excavation waste, Kate Valley is the facility that is top of the list.’’
Kate Valley is a 10-minute drive from Waipara in North Canterbury, and is a fully-consented landfill built on siltstone, which can help stop leaching.
One of the concerns about the controversial Reefton site was the West Coast Regional Council did not have enough staff to regularly monitor the private dumpsite, which was recently found in breach of its resource consent conditions.
Ravensdown’s spokesman said the waste came from a recent excavation project, when the company built three ponds on its Hornby site to improve water quality, and stormwater management.
‘‘We’re proud of them as they are part of a $6 million investment. But of course when you dig three holes on an industrially zoned site, you end up with mostly soil, rubble and a little asbestos.’’
Kate Valley would excavate a site, or cell, he said, and the wrapped asbestos waste would be placed inside.
At the end of each working day the cell would be covered with either more rubbish, or soil. The base of the landfill is lined, and any leachate is collected and treated.
All cells containing asbestos are geo-referenced in case there is a need to re-excavate or drill in a particular area.
‘‘Since the quakes, the whole city has sent its fair share of waste to this facility. Disposing of asbestos from older buildings is a highly-regulated process, and vital for all New Zealand businesses who need to upgrade their building stock and infrastructure.
‘‘Ravensdown is committed to ensuring that all our generated waste is disposed of legally, in accordance with consent requirements, good industry practice, and that our waste management practices remain acceptable to our stakeholders.’’
An Environment Canterbury spokesperson said it is not directly involved with the site currently, but its team will want to ensure the waste is disposed of properly.