As authorities in Otago are discovering, more of these old rubbish dumps are being uncovered all the time, as pressure comes on to use land for new development around the fringes of urban centres. The Otago Regional Council says there may be more than 170 former landfill sites around the region. Climate change is inexorably making these old sites more hazardous, particularly those near the coast and alongside rivers. In March 2019, pristine South Westland beaches ended up strewn with old rubbish after torrential rain fell in the catchment of the Fox River. The roiling river cut into its banks and tore open the old Fox Glacier Township Landfill, removing rubbish such as old car tyres, engine batteries and plastic.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 13, 2021 16:33 UTC