Management of redundant agrichemicals in Canterbury : what are the options?

Abstract

Redundant agrichemicals are a hazardous waste and require management to prevent their release or escape into the environment. The programmes contained in the draft Canterbury Hazardous Waste Management Strategy set out how redundant agrichemicals in the region will be managed over the next five years, so to reduce the risk they pose.

However, the quantity and type of redundant agrichemicals in Canterbury and how these are currently management is not certain. These uncertainties could reduce the effectiveness of the Canterbury Hazardous Waste Management Strategy programmes.

In this report, an examination of the estimated quantity and type of redundant agrichemicals in Canterbury was undertaken, coupled with the surveying of Canterbury agrichemical suppliers and users; and Regional/Unitary Councils who have conducted regional redundant agrichemical collections. The subsequent analysis of this varied data was used to construct evaluative criteria. The Canterbury Hazardous Waste Management Strategy programmes were assessed against these criteria, in order to identify issues that were not addressed by the programmes.

This assessment indicated that the programmes would be very effective in reducing the risk posed by the large mixture of redundant agrichemicals currently in Canterbury. The full list of recommendations can be viewed in section 7. The main recommendations are: a) Management of the risk posed by the substandard storage of redundant agrichemicals should be swiftly dealt with; and b) Guidance regarding the management of intractable redundant agrichemicals should be sought from central Government.