Petone residents fed up with sickening stench

Waste material from a Petone battery-recycling plant being dumped at Wainuiomata landfill is causing a sickening stench that residents say has become almost unbearable.

Landfill owner Hutt City Council has already been found to be in breach of its resource consent conditions over the smell and could face enforcement action if it persists.

The council is working with plant owner Exide Technologies and Greater Wellington regional council to nullify the odour but residents are demanding an immediate fix.

The regional council this week set strict new lead emissions limits on the Exide plant after reviewing its consent conditions. It followed revelations this year that escaping lead was endangering people's health. Though battery lead is recycled, the remaining waste product, known as slag, has been treated then sent to the landfill for about two years.

Coast Road resident Norm Cobb, who lives 1.5 kilometres from the tip, said the smell became noticeable about February. He described it as a pungent, sulphur-like odour.

"A couple of times I've woken up about 5am and the house is absolutely chocker with this filthy stink and you can't get back to sleep.

"Nobody's told us if it's a health hazard or anything. It can't be good for you."

He had made several complaints but felt authorities had been lax in their response.

His neighbour, Diane Clayton, said the "horrendous" smell caught in your throat and made you gasp.

She feared chemicals could be leaching into the ground and nearby rivers.

Wainuiomata ward councillor Ray Wallace said people had suspected Exide waste was responsible for the stench for some time. This was confirmed by independent consultants.

"It's so foul that people are feeling violently ill from it. Wainuiomata residents are simply not going to stand for it."

Hutt council utility services manager Bruce Sherlock said the problem related to the slag's processing and disposal. Some material had reacted with water after being dumped.

Exide was changing its processing procedures and the council had made several landfill improvements such as installing odour-neutralising sprays.

"Certainly there's a bit of a problem and the residents are advising us of that. Exide are falling over backwards to try and solve the problem. They're getting enough bad press without the landfill (issue)."

Exide industrial and smelter operations general manager John Hawkins said the smell flared up because of handling errors at the tip. He hoped to have it fixed in the next couple of months.

"We're trying to be a good neighbour to everybody. Stories in the press about the Exide stink is not good news for our reputation."

- nzpa