Environment Canterbury releases rural waste report

A report commissioned by Environment Canterbury Regional Council has found that good waste management is a difficult proposition for many farmers and members of the rural sector.

GHD undertook surveys for the council in June 2013 after initial reports in 2012 indicated that little was known about rural waste management in Canterbury, despite the area having nearly 9000 farms covering around 2.8 million ha. The survey reveals the types and amounts of waste produced on farms in Canterbury, and how it is managed. It focuses mainly on non-natural wastes such as scrap metal, treated timber, agrichemicals, plastic wrap, and demolition and domestic waste.

While most farmers were found to have an increased awareness of the issue of rural waste and showed a willingness to do the right thing, 92% still use traditional methods for the disposal of their waste, including burying waste in farm pits, burning and bulk storing. Based on the average amounts of waste produced by the farms, this means approximately 192,000 tonnes of waste is potentially disposed of in these ways in Canterbury each year.

These traditional techniques could all potentially have an impact on natural resources, including land, air and water. But while 77% of participants acknowledged that the disposal of non-natural rural wastes represented a problem for Canterbury, 73% felt that they managed their wastes well.

Ken Taylor, Director Investigations and Monitoring, said, “More than half of those surveyed felt there was definitely room for improvement in the way they managed their wastes. However, they did feel it was not just their responsibility to improve things.

“They want to see a more collective and collaborative approach to dealing with rural waste, such as manufacturers having more accountability for taking back their products and for district councils and waste companies to improve their waste recovery operations outside urban centres,” he continued. “They also wanted more information on what recycling and disposal options are currently available to them.”

GHD found that most district councils only provide limited rural waste recovery options, with the onus on farms and agribusinesses to organise their own options for disposal. There are no council-run domestic waste collections in rural areas, due to logistical difficulties, but there are a number of private waste contractors and product stewardship schemes operating throughout Canterbury, willing to provide services to rural communities at a cost.

Taylor said most of the participants know about product stewardship schemes such as recycling silage wrap, but many farmers are confused about how the schemes operate and concerned about the cost. There also appeared to be generational differences between farmers in terms of awareness of the recycling schemes and willingness to pay for them.

He says the next step is to focus on working together with the rural sector, industry and councils to improve waste minimisation through increased re-use, recycling, recovery and better disposal.

“We needed to know what the current situation was, so we can help find ways to manage it effectively,” he said.

“Collaboration between farmers, local and national government, as well as with industry, is the only meaningful way to provide effective, long-term solutions that work for everybody.”

The summary report can be found here and the full report here.