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Key Points Waste-to-energy incineration proposals for municipal solid waste are popping up around NZ. Regardless of what waste-to-energy proponents claim, burning rubbish is not zero waste. It’s a continuation of the linear ‘take-make-dispose’ economy, which is unsustainable and the anathema of zero waste. We need […]
The Government is proposing to regulate a whole bunch of problematic wasteful items (finally) and they’re consulting on it RIGHT NOW. Submissions close on Friday 4 October 2019 at 5pm. We strongly encourage you to make a submission. You can do so here. The overwhelming […]
Everyone! Sh*t just got real! On Friday 9 August 2019, Minister Eugenie Sage MP announced the Government will be consulting on a proposal to declare a range of problematic waste streams “priority products”, by the end of this year! This would mean that a product stewardship […]
*** This post was updated in October 2019 to reflect recent waste policy developments*** Key Points The zero waste approach to plastics reduction focuses on replacing single-use plastics and plastic packaging with reusable alternatives (rather than single-use disposables made of other materials). The New Zealand Government […]
Getting in touch with businesses who you reckon could do more on the waste front is a great way to make changes. People often believe that their one letter or phone call won’t make a difference, but it can be surprising the changes small groups of people […]
Recently, Hannah published an article in the journal Policy Quarterly about New Zealand’s waste policy. See the PDF below for the full issue (Hannah’s article starts on p.13). The article focuses on the neglect of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, the impact that decades of virtual non-action […]
Key Points Bringing your own containers to food outlets that sell unpackaged food is a great way to reduce waste. Most food retailers in NZ accept BYO containers, but there are some that do not (including major supermarkets), citing hygiene/food safety laws. The Food Act […]
Key points More and more consumers are looking to glass packaging as a more sustainable alternative to plastic. Glass has environmental benefits over plastic: it’s infinitely recyclable, it’s reusable, and it’s non-toxic if it escapes into the environment. However glass has environmental drawbacks: it’s energy intensive to […]
Key Points The Waste Minimisation Act 2008 requires city/district councils to produce a Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) and to review it every six years (sections 43 and 50). In these 6-yearly reviews, councils have to explain the waste situation in their district/city (called […]
*** This post was updated in October 2019 to reflect policy developments *** Key points In New Zealand we use 2.23 billion beverage containers a year. Only 40% are recycled. The rest get landfilled or become land and marine litter. A container deposit scheme (CDS) […]