My Account
Landfill perplexing
Having visited New Zealand from the UK a number of times over the last 10 years, and being closely involved in the waste industry over there, I find the attitude to waste here quite perplexing.
In the UK, we now have very few landfills, as the government taxed them highly due to public opinion over the loss of recyclable materials that were being buried and not decomposing for millennia. Some companies have even embarked on “mining” old landfills for such materials now.) This made people look at alternatives to landfill and most municipal waste is now sent to waste-to-energy incinerators that produce electricity from the heat produced.
Despite some public opposition and environmental concerns, the emissions from these incinerators are “scrubbed” and it is actually mostly water vapour that is emitted from chimneys. The ash is further processed to remove metals, via magnetic and eddy current separators, with the final ash being sent for use within the aggregate industry.
As this technology is now available the world over, surely it would be better to build a facility to turn Auckland’s waste into energy, rather than filling a hole in the ground in a remote, steep-sided valley and having to deal with the subsequent effluent run-off and associated side effects? It wouldn’t be allowed in the UK and it seems crazy that it’s allowed here in NZ.
Paul Holmes, Arlington, UK
Tank failure
I wish to draw your attention to the safety hazard caused by a large plastic water tank catastrophically failing and the possibility of injury to persons close by.
On January 1, one of my 25,000-litre water storage tanks burst with a load bang. The blast of water knocked the pump housing off its concrete slab and shifted the slab. Anybody in the close vicinity could have been injured.
There had been no signs of the tank failing such as leaks, folds or splits. This tank was 23 years old, the warranty was for 25 years. It was installed according to manufacturer’s requirements and inspected by Council.
I informed the manufacturer of the failure and invited them to visit the site and see the way in which the tank had collapsed. They showed no interest in doing this.
Manufacturers are quick to blame these failures on incorrect installation.
I believe these failures are due to material fatigue from constant flexing over time, causing the plastic to suddenly fail.
In my opinion, the construction needs some sort of reinforcing membrane within the tank wall (or outside) to prevent the sides from bursting outwards. This would slow down the blast of water by holding the tank together.
From my experience, when a tank fails it does so in an explosive manner rather than a passive manner.
I own eight large plastic water storage tanks. Two have failed, both in an explosive manner.
Until I read the Mahurangi Matters article on page 34 of the January 22 issue, I didn’t realise how common these failures were and, thus, the potential for injury.
Therefore, I am reporting this problem to WorkSafe.
Jerry Rees-Webbe, Mangakura
Music men
A huge thank you to the group of very talented men whose carol singing, and accompanying music, down by the river was such a joy at Christmas time. To have come across them again on an evening walk, this time entertaining us with a variety of other songs from their repertoire, was a very welcome surprise.
Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth
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