Farm waste 

Waste is an inevitable consequence of many horticultural and animal activities. Most farms are located a long way from waste disposal sites and do not have a waste collection system provided by the local authority. 

In the past many land owners got rid of waste either by tipping it down gullies or onto land in an isolated part of the farm or by burning it. In Canterbury surface and groundwater are important resources and are used for recreation purposes as well as a source of drinking water, industrial water and for irrigation. Therefore waste disposal activities on farms are included in a wide range of activities subject to regulation under the Draft Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan. To find out what management is proposed under these plans click on each of the following links for further information.  

• solid waste 
• dead animals 
• agrichemical waste

At a national level the government has produced a Dioxin Action Plan for the management of Dioxins. This has not yet come into effect but proposes that burning of plastic containers such as plastic baling wrap and empty agrichemical containers will be prohibited on rural properties.