Enviro-Mark award for landfill

Discussing Delta's silver Enviro-Mark award are (from left) landfill engineer Dave Hanan, systems...
Discussing Delta's silver Enviro-Mark award are (from left) landfill engineer Dave Hanan, systems adviser for strategy and growth Dan Currier and environmental services manager Mike Cooper, at the Green Island landfill yesterday. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Despite the negative impact landfills have on the environment, the Green Island landfill is breaking the mould by being the first in New Zealand to win a silver Enviro-Mark award.

The Enviro-Mark programme, managed by Landcare Research, was voluntary and took two years to complete.

In May 2008 Delta received the bronze award and last month it achieved silver.

Assessment criteria included legislative requirements, policies, procedures, training, targets and modification of the system where and when required.

Audits were carried out to ensure the company was complying with its goals.

Because of Delta's work in capturing methane gas and burning it, rather than letting it escape into the atmosphere, and establishing plantings on and around the site, the landfill's "impact on the environment is virtually negligible", landfill engineer Dave Hanan said.

He believed it was probably Dunedin's "largest landscaping project" as, for the past 15 years, 2000sq m had been landscaped and planted and next year a full hectare would be rejuvenated.

This encouraged wildlife to return to the area and helped offset the landfill's environmental impact.

Environmental services manager Mike Cooper believed Delta had a "huge respect" for the environment and the Enviro-Mark programme was just one way to show the company's dedication to continuing with sustainable practices.

The company would now "go for gold" to achieve the next level of certification for the landfill and planned to implement an environmental management system into other business units, Mr Cooper said.

ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz

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