Anti – pollution moves against factory

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33938, 3 September 1975, Page 11

Anti - pollution moves against factory

CS’ew Zealand Preet Association)

AUCKLAND. A major Auckland company faces the possibility of closing, in a show of strength by (Government anti-pollution inspectors.

New Zealand Fibre Glass, Ltd, makers of Batts household insulation, is under a 12-week “ultimatum” to stop the pollution from its huge Penrose factory. The directive comes from Mr N. Thom, the Health Department’s regional air pollution control officer. The company has been ordered to curb the white “smoke” that has poured from the plant since May. when $1 million worth of new equipment came into production, tripling output. The new plant came into use as the Government announced interest-free loans for anyone wanting to insta! home insulation. This resulted in a huge increase in demand, and forced the company to begin round-; the-clock production, seven! days a week, before all 1 teething problems had been; eliminated. The major pollutant con-j tained in the emission is believed to be a combination! of phenol and formaldehyde,; vital elements in the pro-| duction of thermal insulation) materials. Dr N. T. Barnett. Auckland Medical Officer of Health, said today that as far as they were aware) there was no danger to the hea'th of the people living nearby. Official concern centres, on the visible pollution. But a spokesman for New Zealand fibreglass denied; there was any “ultimatum". "For some weeks we have been working towards rectifying this difficulty in full liason with the department of health," he said. "We are concerned that there is an emission problem over an aspect of the fibre- i glass wool manufacturing! process in Auckland and we are conscious of the need to comply with the clean air; act, and to serve the com-' munitv from an environmen-1 ta! point of view,” he said. The companv is flying an expert from Owens Coming Fibreglass Corporation, within the next two weeks “to review the situation with a view to recommending further appropriate improvements. ‘This type of problem is

common to all fibreglass plants throughout the world where .millions of dollars have been spent to reduce emissions to the level that exists today.” Under the 1972 Clean Air Act, a licence is required for almost every industrial or trade process that has an air i pollution potential. Under the Act, companies, can be forced to reduce the emission to the inspector’s satis-' i faction. If this is ignored, legal action can be taken to have the licence cancelled.