How Whanganui s Tasman Tanning plans to improve environmental record
4 Mar, 2021 04:00 PM
2 minutes to read
Tasman Tanning is continuing to work on improving its trade waste. Photo / Bevan Conley
Laurel Stowell is a reporter for the Whanganui Chroniclelaurel.stowell@whanganuichronicle.co.nzWhangaChron
Whanganui s Tasman Tanning expects to drop its effluent waste and chromium levels to significantly below the district council s allowable limits by the end of the year, chief executive Neville Dyer says. The tannery breached its wastewater consents 570 times in the last year, it was reported in January.
Tasman Tanning contributes only 5 per cent of the water treated by the Whanganui wastewater treatment plant - but 25 per cent of the solids.
Talleys, Ernest Adams and Yoplait are among hundreds of manufacturers and brands dumping contaminants into New Zealand s drains and getting away with it, RNZ has revealed today.
Some are bakeries, supermarkets and takeaway shops dumping the contents of their dirty grease traps. But some of New Zealand s biggest manufacturers and brands are also discharging contaminants - many of them dangerous - and most have breached the conditions of their consents multiple times.
Data obtained from 68 city and district councils paints a grim picture of compliance, showing at least 267 companies have breached their conditions.
RNZ approached every company named in the story for comment. You can read the full statements of those who responded here.