Investigation underway into demolition waste allegedly buried ilegally.
Environment Canterbury is investigating a Christchurch contractor for allegedly burying demolition waste on 13 cleared residential sections.
Companies found guilty of the practice could face millions of dollars in fines if prosecuted for the dumping, which is understood to be several cubic metres of waste in each case.
Demolition contractors must follow disposal guidelines, including paying any dumping fees at approved waste facilities, and there are strict requirements around the treatment of hazardous materials such as asbestos.
Environment Canterbury (ECan) confirmed buried waste had been found and removed at four properties, and another nine addresses were being investigated with ground-penetrating radar.
All 13 sites related to one “alleged offender”, said project manager waste and environmental management team, Carl Diamond.
Paul Lindsay – sole director of limited liability companies Lindsay Builders and Bobcats R Us – told The Press he was co-operating with ECan on a series of underground tests.
He initially denied his companies had been burying demolition waste, but then backtracked:
“We’ve just been doing a whole bunch of ECan stuff to test it and what you’re saying is not quite true … they found very little.”
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