Smelter's toxic waste stockpile grows

Smelter's toxic waste stockpile grows
Staff reporters
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters increased the amount of toxic waste it is storing around Southland from 181,000 tonnes to 217,000 tonnes. The spent cell linings are used carbon refractory bricks, which contain fluoride, cyanide and nitrites are part of the aluminum smelting process. They produce explosive gases when mixed with water.Flooding at a disused papermill in the Southland town of Mataura in 2017 drew public attention to the stockpiled waste, triggering court action by the Environmental Defence Society and harsh public criticism fro...