Helping rid farms of chemical waste

Do you have banned or unwanted agrichemicals on your farm?

Greater Wellington is currently compiling a list of rural properties throughout the region for a collection of agrichemicals planned for mid 2008.

The collection is part of a joint Greater Wellington and Ministry for the Environment programme aiming to rid the region of banned and unwanted agrichemicals.

In 2006 the programme facilitated the removal of 1,250kg of chemicals from 15 properties in the Wairarapa region, assisted by Medichem Waste Services and Transpacific Technical Services.

Persistent organic pollutants (or "POPs") such as DDT are among those targeted in the collection. They have been deregistered because they are harmful to humans, animals and the environment. Farm owners are encouraged to take the opportunity to get these and other banned or dangerous chemicals off their land.

"Often these chemicals are sitting in drums around the property, unbeknown to owners," says Naomi Middleton, a pollution control officer at Greater Wellington. "Some property owners may have inherited or recently purchased properties and need to check their land for containers that may contain chemicals. To reduce risks to farm owners, contractors will come right to the properties to collect the chemicals."

Ms Middleton said Greater Wellington was undertaking the collection because the continued storage or onsite disposal of dangerous chemicals could lead to environmental contamination. Holding banned or unwanted agrichemicals could also lead to properties being registered as contaminated on Greater Wellington's Selected Land Use Register.

Farm owners can register for the collection now by contacting Naomi Middleton, ph on 04 384 5708 or emailing pollution.control@gw.govt.nz