Hutt City To Prosecute Over Trade Wastes

Hutt City Council is to prosecute two Hutt City companies for significant and repeated breaches of its trade waste bylaws. It is also considering enforcement action against a third company, and intends to make its decision in the New Year.

The two companies are United Environmental Limited (trading as Nuplex Environmental) and NZ Fish Products Limited.

Hutt City Divisional Manager Inspections and Enforcement, Steve McCarthy said the prosecutions were regrettable but both companies had repeatedly and significantly breached trade waste levels that had been agreed with them prior to new trade waste charges being introduced ahead of the commissioning of the Seaview Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2001.

“We are not talking small breaches – these are gross breaches of the companies’ consents to discharge trade wastes, and they pose a potential threat to the integrity of the new Seaview Wastewater Treatment Plant,” said Steve McCarthy.

“These companies have had five years notice of the new trade waste bylaws and implications of new consent requirements. Practically all 590 companies operating in Hutt City are operating within their applicable trade waste discharge levels.”

“The public have made it clear that they value a clean environment. Industry has to play its part by reducing their trade wastes and ensuring they comply with the bylaws” said Steve McCarthy.

If convicted the companies could face fines of up to $10,000 for each offence.

“Compliance with trade waste consents is integral towards maintaining the performance of the Seaview Wastewater Treatment Plant and the investment made on behalf of the ratepayers of Hutt City. Our aim is simply that the companies comply with the consents that were agreed with them in good faith,” said Steve McCarthy.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Smokefree Laws Debacle

The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable view is that the government was being deliberately misleading. Are we to think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a fool or a liar? It seems rather early on in his term of office to be facing that unpleasant choice... More