National rules wanted for transport of wastes

Press, 3 May 1984, Page 6

National rules wanted for transport of wastes

Wellington reporter Better legislation was needed to control the transport of hazardous wastes in New Zealand — a series of seminars held up and down the country earlier this year concluded. They gave support for a national organisation to be set up by the Government to advise on the management of and disposal of hazardous wastes, employing a national co-ordinator to liaise with the regions. At regional government

level, the seminars recommended that planning and over-all control should rest with regional councils, that should appoint a special officer to do the work. At local government level, local councils should run depots, including landfills, as co-ordinated by the regions. Papers presented at and information from the seminars would be collated and published, said Ms M. Bailey, of the Commission for the Environment. The next step would be to

draft a national strategy on the management of hazardous wastes. Ms Bailey said that that would be distributed widely to local and regional authorities, technical and professional groups, consultants, industries, central government agencies, advisory boards, and other special interest groups. It was likely then that further seminars would be held by 1985. The Christchurch seminar (last February) had attracted about 90 people.