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Farm waste rules in Otago
Farm waste disposal is a reality in many remote rural areas and farms across New Zealand.
However, if it is not managed properly, burying waste can release harmful substances into soil, groundwater, and waterways, leading to contamination of water and health risks to humans and animals. Organic waste can also produce gases as it breaks down, while buried plastics can fragment into microplastics that migrate beyond the landfill boundary and can enter our soils and groundwater.
The Otago Regional Council therefore has rules in place to manage on-farm waste disposal, set out in the Regional Plan: Waste.
We have provided a plain-English summary below, however please refer to the full Waste Plan for complete details.
On-farm landfills may be allowed in Otago if they meet strict conditions (see rule 7.6.8 in the Waste Plan). Your landfill must:
- Be mapped and its location given to the Otago Regional Council;
- Be dug to avoid groundwater seepage into the pit;
- Leachate does not enter any waterbody;
- Only take waste from your own property;
- Not be used for hazardous or toxic waste, sewage, offal, or animal effluent;
- Not cause smells, hazards, or other problems beyond your property;
- Not be used to burn waste.
Location requirements:
- Be at least 100 metres away from any well used for household or stock drinking water;
- Be at least 50 metres away from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands, and the mean high water springs;
- Be at least 50 metres away from your property boundary.
Bringing in waste from elsewhere, or failing to meet these conditions, requires a resource consent.
For more information see How to manage landfills and offal pits in Otago.
Offal pits can pose risks to water, soil, and human and animal health.
Offal pits on production land or factory farms are a permitted activity, but only if strict conditions are met.
Your offal pit must:
- Be mapped and its location given to the Otago Regional Council;
- Be dug to avoid groundwater seepage into the pit;
- Leachate does not enter any waterbody;
- Only contain dead animals from your property and perishable household food waste;
- No animal material from industrial or trade premises (eg, from freezing works) - this may require a consent;
- Being a “Good Neighbour” - the offal pit must not cause smells, hazards, or other problems beyond your property boundary.
Location requirements:
- Be at least 100 metres away from any well used for household or stock drinking water
- Be at least 50 metres away from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands, and the mean high water springs
- Be at least 50 metres away from your property boundary
For more information see How to manage landfills and offal pits in Otago.
Cleanfill landfills are allowed if only clean material is used (like natural soil and clay, rocks and gravel, uncontaminated and unpainted bricks and concrete) and no sediment enters any waterbodies.
If this condition is not met, a resource consent is required. When assessing consent applications, the Council considers:
- where the site is located (including water bodies, erosion or unstable areas, and culturally or historically important sites);
- potential effects on land, water, and air;
- how adverse effects will be avoided, remedied or mitigated;
- how the site will be monitored.
For more information see Cleanfill disposal and management in Otago.
Composting organic material is allowed in Otago, if you meet conditions:
- The pit is dug to avoid groundwater seepage;
- No leachate produced from compost enters any water body;
- Be done on the property where most of the compost material comes from;
- Being a “Good Neighbour” - must not cause smells, hazards, or other problems beyond your property boundaries.
Location requirements:
- Be at least 100 metres away from any well used for household or stock drinking water;
- Be at least 50 metres away from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands, and mean high water springs.
Your silage pit or stack must:
- Be dug or set up so groundwater can’t seep into it
- Leachate does not enter any waterbody
- Be located on production land
- Must not cause smells, hazards, or other problems beyond your property
Location requirements:
- Be at least 100 metres away from any well used for household or stock drinking water
- Be at least 50 metres away from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands, and mean high water springs (the average level of the highest tides)
- Be at least 50 metres away from your property boundary (not including road boundaries)
For more information see Managing silage on farms.
Burning waste like toxic material, including plastic, cannot occur. This can release harmful substances and carcinogens in the environment, contribute to air pollution and pose human health risks.
It is not allowed to burn plastic, tyres and rubber, treated timber, contaminated material, food waste, heavy metals, motor vehicles and parts, agrichemicals, and more items. Check the flowchart below and contact your local council to see if this material can be recycled or safely disposed of through an alternative waste management route.
Where possible, paper and cardboard should be recycled. However, it is permitted to burn paper, cardboard, vegetative matter and untreated wood that is dry at the time of burning.
Check ORC’s guidance on whether your outdoor burning is compliant or not: Enjoy outdoor burning safely in Otago. Additional permits may also be required, and there may be additional rules depending on what Air Zone you are in. Check Fire & Emergency NZ (checkitsalright.nz) or contact your local council.
