The Environment Court (ec) of New Zealand (nz) has rejected all appeals regarding a controversial battery recycling plant located in Petone, Wellington. They upheld the lead emission limits set by the Greater Wellington Regional Council for Exide Technologies, producers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries.

Exide made headlines last year when nz's Regional Public Health announced prolonged exposure to lead and arsenic, escaping from the plant in the form of dust, was harming children and pregnant women. Residents claimed samples of by-products from Exide showed high levels of residue and were running into the nearby river and the harbour. They were dissatisfied with the Council's time frame for achieving of lower limits.

The key issue was about setting up of a fence line lead emission limits that would safeguard public health but allow the plant to remain viable. In this regard, Exide had appealed to the council calling the limit too low.