Local Govt Act needs amendment to fix waste dumping

Councils are calling on the government to fix a loophole that allows companies to dump contaminated waste water down the drain without facing penalties. An RNZ investigation reveals at least 270 companies, including some of the country's biggest manufacturers like Talley's, AFFCO and McCains, have breached their trade waste consents dozens of times over the past year. Heavily contaminated waste water can damage public infrastructure and the environment, but none of the companies have been prosecuted, because it's too costly and complex for councils to take them to court. Mike Reid, from Local Government New Zealand, says that councils can't issue fines either .. due to an error in the Local Government Act. He told Anusha Bradley their pleas to successive governments to fix the Act have been ignored for 18 years.