Responding to dumped soil

A rising incidence of dumped soils is being reported, particularly in the Council areas where there are substantail residential developments. The  Environmental Protection Act 2017 legislation and subordinate tools places specific obligations on Councils, as both land managers and waste authorities.

Dumped soil on Council land may be a priority waste and require Councils to follow  a specific regulatory process which requires them to investigate, sample, classify, measure and test the soil before they can make arragements for its removal. 

However anecdotal evidence suggests many Councils are not aware of their obligations. 

The meeting will provide Council staff the opportunity to receive a briefing from the EPA on their regulatory obligations, to discuss policies and procedures in their Council and to share their experience of working with the new regime at a time when the incidence of dumped soils is increasing.