WASTE INDUSTRY TRAINING ISSUES CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVING CONSISTENT OUTCOMES IN NEW ZEALAND by S F Eldridge, A P Kortegast, A G B Bryce, A W Shallard Tonkin & Taylor Ltd

Introduction Significant improvement in landfilling practices in past 15 to 20 years Legislative framework: –Resource Management Act, 1991 –National Environment Standards Relating to Certain Air Pollutants, Dioxins and Other Toxics (NES), 2004 Landfill standards still variable across the country

Variable landfill practices Poor cover practices – leading to issues with: –Litter control –Odour management –Exposed waste –Surface water quality –Landfill gas management Lack of waste compaction Large working areas Poor attention to surface water control resulting in stagnant water, surface water / leachate mixes, and elevated nutrient levels in runoff.

Potential causes The continued lack of definitive standards for design, operation or monitoring of landfills (we have Guideline documents only) Inconsistent regulatory enforcement A lack of adequate training and capacity building A failure to prioritise training and development for landfill management.

Possible way forward Guidance Documents and Standards –Specific to New Zealand conditions –Provide a level playing field for regulators, designers and operators Training –Supplement existing training –Engage regulators, designers and operators

Training options Existing National Qualifications Framework: –Resource Recovery: composting recycling and recovery resource recovery – construction and demolition resource recovery operations resource recovery theory reuseable goods scrap metal recycling and zero waste –Solid waste: hazardous and special waste management solid waste disposal solid waste handling.

Training options (cont) International on-line courses: –Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) e courses Local, privately run operator training courses Add-on to the WasteMINZ workshops and conferences –Opportunity for policy makers, regulators, designers and operators to contribute to and discuss the challenges that arise across the country –Improve consistency

WaseMINZ lead courses Landfill design and operating standards across the country and how they can be improved Landfill gas management and odour control and how it is best achieved An introduction to landfill design and operation An introduction to landfill closure and afteruse.

Way forward Elicit comment and stimulate discussion Landfill Sector Group can play key role in promoting training and regulatory initiatives Thoughts / comments?????