2.45pm
A potentially deadly byproduct of the illegal methamphetamine drug trade is poisoning Northland's environment.
Police have raised concerns over the dumping of toxic waste after a Northland landfill recorded high levels of chemicals used during the making of methamphetamine - also known as speed.
Northland drug squad boss Detective Sergeant Grant Smith
said a kilogram of methamphetamine produced about 10kg of highly volatile and dangerous waste.
Police have found the toxic chemicals are being poured into the region's waterways, tipped down the drain, dumped in public landfills and put out for rubbish collection.
Police were unable to say what quantities of the drug had been produced in Northland. However, official police statistics show that, in the current financial year, 17 laboratories have been discovered.
"Bottles used for mixing and storing these chemicals were just out in a plastic bag to go out at the garden gate," Mr Smith said.
"It's a huge concern such dangerous chemicals are just being discarded in the public rubbish system. Someone down the line could be seriously hurt or burnt.
"In the worst-case scenario, someone could be killed by these products. They are more likely to cause severe burning because they are highly toxic and flammable."
Northland Regional Council monitoring manager Tony Phipps said a landfill at Hakaru, near Mangawhai, had recorded elevated levels of a solvent used in the manufacture of speed. Usually there were zero levels of the common solvent which is also used by spray painters.
All four landfills in the region were regularly tested for chemical leaching, Mr Phipps said.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)
Herald Feature: Conservation and Environment
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