Nick Smith3 November,
2010
Minister for the
Environment Nick Smith today announced grants
for three recycling projects from Waikato,
Raglan and Kaitaia at the Community Recycling
Network Hui in Wellington.
"Environment Waikato,
in partnership with Hamilton City Council
and the Matamata-Piako District Council,
will receive $159,000 over two years from
the Government's Waste Minimisation Fund,"
Dr Smith said. "Working with Inghams
Enterprises they will investigate the use
of pyrolysis technology to convert problem
waste into useful products like biochar
and reduce methane emissions from waste
going to landfill.
"Beyond completion
of the two-year pilot, pyrolysis will be
part of the processing of Waikato waste
converting 32,000 tonnes a year. Pyrolysis
technology uses heat, without oxygen, to
break-down organic waste. Introducing it
into the Waikato will not only reduce the
amount of organic waste going to landfill,
it will also turn unusable waste material
into products that can be used to improve
productivity on farms.
"Xtreme Waste will
use a $21,1000 grant to investigate diverting
the Raglan and the Waingaroa region's organic
waste and processing it into high quality
compost at the Raglan recycling centre.
The compost will be sold and used to enrich
local gardens.
"Xtreme Waste will
consult with local businesses, event organisers,
marae and members of the public, to investigate
the best way for the community to collect
their organic waste. This project is a great
example of a local organisation working
with its community.
"The Community
Business and Environment Centre from Kaitaia
will receive $30,000 to investigate and
trial the use of seven Northland marae as
recycling drop off points. CBEC will also
conduct seminars and produce a guide for
local communities and councils about the
trial.
"CBEC will provide
recycling facilities for people living in
remote Northland regions, as many people
in these areas don't have access to recycling
services and as a result either burn or
bury their waste, including waste that can
be recycled. For this to change recycling
services need to be made available for them
to use.
"The grants I am
announcing today are great examples of organisations
collaborating with their communities to
develop ideas that will benefit the environment
by reducing waste and recycling."
+ More
Moratorium proposed
to allow collaboration on Waiau-Hurunui
catchment
Nick Smith23 November,
2010
Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced
his approval for Environment Canterbury
Commissioners to place a moratorium on new
water takes from the Waiau River and its
tributaries.
"This 10 month
moratorium on granting new water takes on
the Waiau is to give a window of opportunity
to develop a long term sustainable plan
for water in North Canterbury," Dr
Smith said. "It parallels the moratorium
placed on the Hurunui in July that also
expires on 1 October 2011.
"The Environment
Canterbury Commissioners have asked me to
use the special moratorium process of the
Environment Canterbury Act for a second
time. Following consultation with Cabinet
and Caucus, I have approved their proposal.
Commissioners will make the final decision
on the moratorium at their council meeting
tomorrow.
"The Waiau River
is strategically important in the wider
debate over Canterbury's water in that it
has a large block of high flow water suitable
for storage that is not allocated. I don't
believe the default mechanism of first-come,
first-served is the optimal way in which
to determine the use of this resource.
"I will be asking
the Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee to have
strong input into determining the best use
of this water for the benefit of their community
and Canterbury.
"This moratorium
allows the Committee time and space to consider
an integrated solution for both the Hurunui
and Waiau Rivers catchments. It provides
an opportunity for a collaborative local
approach to develop a balanced and comprehensive
plan that will impact upon the future of
the Waiau-Hurunui Catchment for generations
to come.
"Access to freshwater
is New Zealand's key economic advantage
and we need to get more strategic to ensure
we use it to our best advantage. Irrigation
in Canterbury needs to occur in a planned
and sustainable way and this use of the
special powers under the Environment Canterbury
Act (2010) to create a moratorium reinforces
that."
