Hazardous substances and contaminated sites

Within this topic:

• Contaminated sites • Hazardous substances

Welcome to Environment Waikato’s web pages on hazardous substances and contaminated sites in the Waikato region. You will find information about the use and disposal of hazardous substances, and the management of contaminated sites.

This topic is about hazardous substances and contaminated sites.

What’s happening in our region

Hazardous substances are common in our daily lives. Waikato roads are used to transport many flammable liquids and corrosive substances. Pesticides are extensively used for agriculture and horticulture, and many other hazardous substances are used in industry. We need to manage these substances carefully, so that they don’t enter the environment by accident and through unsafe use and disposal.

The few studies completed in the Waikato on background levels of hazardous substances show that levels are low and generally no cause for concern. In some areas, there are high concentrations of hazardous waste from past permitted use (for example, pesticides such as dieldrin) and from misuse (for example, unmanaged disposal).

Protecting ourselves and our environment

Environment Waikato has been working in conjunction with the Ministry for the Environment to develop a set of guidelines for identifying contaminated sites. Investigating contaminated sites is a long-term process, and focuses on those sites considered to have the greatest potential to cause harm. The total amount of hazardous substances released into our environment is not known.

We can minimise the effects of hazardous substances through:

• only using hazardous substances when absolutely necessary
  
• safe practice in transport, use and disposal of hazardous substances
  
• identifying and cleaning up contaminated sites.

Find out about how the Rotowaro Carbonisation Plant and Hamilton Gasworks were cleaned up.