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Government blasts Rio Tinto for failing to deal with hazardous waste

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 13 Feb 2020, 10:39AM
The flooded Mataura River rips past the former Mataura paper mill. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery, ODT

Government blasts Rio Tinto for failing to deal with hazardous waste

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 13 Feb 2020, 10:39AM

Court action could be taken over hazardous waste left in an old Southland paper mill.

Almost 10,000 tonnes of a by-product from Rio Tinto's Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is being stored at the former Mataura paper mill.

There were fears it would contaminate the Mataura River during last week's flooding.

Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks told Mike Hosking the fact the Government's considering taking the company to court is appropriate.

"Rio Tinto pride themselves on being clean and green, but there is a dirty underbelly hidden in Mataura and around parts of Southland."

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