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re:source

Rethinking Waste Potential

Issue 3, INFO 394
March 2009

Welcome to the third issue of re:source an e-newsletter from the Ministry for the Environment.

re:source will keep you up-to-date with the progress we are making implementing the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and developments being made in the field of resource efficiency.

If you have any feedback or questions for the Waste Minimisation team about re:source or any other waste-related topics please email us at: waste@mfe.govt.nz

If you’ve received re:source directly from the Ministry for the Environment, you are already a subscriber. If you are not the original recipient you may subscribe.

In this issue:

Public consultation- Waste Minimisation in New Zealand

On March 19 the Ministry for the Environment released a discussion paper titled Waste Minimisation in New Zealand to gather feedback from interested parties on:

  • Revising the targets for the New Zealand Waste Strategy
  • Identifying products that are priorities for product stewardship
  • Identifying funding criteria for the Waste Minimisation Fund
  • Monitoring waste in New Zealand
  • Improving the operation of the waste levy.

Copies of the discussion document are available on the Ministry website or by emailing publications@mfe.govt.nz or or phoning 04 439 7400.

Making a submission

Submissions are open until 5.00 pm on Friday 15 May 2009. An online submission tool will help guide you through the process. For queries on submissions contact Monique Crawford on (04) 439 7746.

Public consultation meetings

To help you with make a submission, we are holding a series of meetings around the country from late March to early April.

These sessions are your chance to question Ministry policy experts on areas of the discussion document you’re interested in submitting ideas on. So come prepared:

  1. Make yourself familiar with the sections of the document you are interested in.
  2. Come up with a list of questions to help inform your submission.

For more information, or to register your interest in attending a meeting, please email: waste@mfe.govt.nz or call the Ministry for the Environment on 04 439 7400.

Meeting schedule

30 March
Rotorua, Kingsgate Hotel, Fenton Street 
10.30 am – 1.00pm General open session
2.00 pm   – 4.00pm Specialist session: Councils and landfill operators.

31 March
North Shore, Spencer on Byron, 9-17 Byron Ave,Takapuna 
9.00 am – 12.30 pm General open session
1.30 pm – 5.00 pm Specialist session: Council and landfill operators

Dunedin, Scenic Circle Dunedin, Cnr Princes and Dowling Streets
9.00 am – 12.30 pm General open session 
1.00 pm – 4.00 pm Specialist session: Council and landfill operators

1 April
Manukau, Auckland Centra Airport, Corner Kirkbride and Ascot Roads, Mangere
9.00 am –12.30 pm General open Session
1.30 pm – 5.00 pm Specialist sessions: council and landfill operators

Christchurch, Holiday Inn on Avon, 356 Oxford Terrace
9.00 am – 12.30 pm General open session
1.30 pm – 5.00 pm Specialist session: Council and landfill operators.

2 April
Nelson, Rutherford Hotel, Trafalgar Square
9.00 am – 12.00 pm General open session.

Blenheim, Brydan on Rose Motor Lodge, Rose Street
2.30 pm – 5.00 pm General open session.

New Plymouth, Quality Hotel Plymouth International, Corner Courtney and Leach Streets
10.30 am – 1.00pm General open session
2.00 pm – 4.00pm Specialist session: Councils and landfill operators.

3 April
Wellington, Duxton Hotel, 170 Wakefield Street
9.00 am – 12.30 pm General open session
1.30 pm – 5.00 pm Specialist session: Council and landfill operators.

Napier, East Pier, Hardinge Road, Ahuriri
10.00 am – 12.30 pm General open session 
1.30 pm – 4.00 pm Specialist session: Councils and landfill operators. 

Re-prioritisation of work for Waste team

As a consequence of the enactment of the Waste Minimisation Act, the Ministry’s Waste team will be primarily focused on the implementation of the Waste Minimisation Act for the remainder of the year. Ensuring the Act is implemented on time and on budget means that some of the resources previously deployed to general waste issues will now be reallocated to this work. This means that some non-Act work streams will not be able to be progressed as much as previously.

The enactment of the Act also means the Ministry will take on an increasing regulatory and approval role under the Act. As a result, the Waste team will be less able to engage with stakeholders in the guidance capacity that has been an important part of its role to date.

Additionally, in line with a Cabinet directive to all government departments, the Ministry is currently undertaking a value-for-money review of its work programmes and expenditure. The purpose of this review is to identify savings and ensure the Ministry is focused on priority government work such as the redesign and implementation of the Emissions Trading Scheme, the reform of the Resource Management Act, work on improving New Zealand's freshwater management and Waste Minimisation Act implementation.

Product stewardship accreditation update

Accreditation

Testing is underway with a number of product stewardship schemes to inform accreditation guidelines and application criteria. Business processes around accreditation are also being developed.

Consultation will be carried out when the guidelines and application forms have been confirmed and released. Industry will then have the opportunity to submit applications for the accreditation of product stewardship schemes.

It is envisaged that final guidelines and application forms will be available by the end of 2009.

Priority Products

Identifying products that are priority products for product stewardship is one of the issues we are currently seeking feedback on through our Waste Minimisation in New Zealand discussion document. Submissions received will be considered when we develop a list of key priority products for consideration.

LoveNZ – Recycling in Public Places Initiative update

The LoveNZ Recycling in Public Places Initiative is a three-year partnership programme between central and local government to establish a network of easily recognisable recycling bins in high-foot traffic and key tourist locations across New Zealand.

However, while the Government is supportive of the initiative it is not one of its priority work areas and the decision has been made to scale back funding.

The initiative will now on focus on the following areas:

  • The Ministry will fulfil its contractual obligations to all councils who joined the scheme through the 2007/08 and 2008/09 funding rounds. This includes servicing contributions through to June 2010. Beyond this date councils were always expected to fund the costs of servicing and maintaining the recycling bins.
  • Organisations other than councils interested in using the LoveNZ – Recycle with care brand on existing or new recycling bins will still be able to enter into an agreement with the Ministry to do so at their own cost.
  • Options are being explored for other methods of funding the LoveNZ bins beyond 2009.

Areas where funding has been reduced include:

  • The third and final funding round. This was due to open later this month and it will no longer occur.
  • Existing partner councils will no longer receive contributions towards marketing and promotion of the LoveNZ recycling bins.

By June 2009, around 537 bins will be in place around the country.

For further information please refer to the LoveNZ Recycling in Public Places Initiative pages on the Ministry website.

The Warehouse set to charge for plastic bags

The Warehouse has announced that they will charge 10 cents per bag for plastic bags from 20 April. Other retailers such as Pak'N'Save, Borders and Bunnings already charge for bags.

The move is line with the Government’s focus on encouraging the establishment of financial incentives (rather than regulation or prohibition) to encourage environmentally friendly behaviour. 

To view the Australia & New Zealand Environmental Protection & Heritage Commissions recent report on findings from a Trial on a Government and Industry charge on plastic bags, click here here.

'How the Waste Minimisation Act affects you' information sheets now available

A series of information sheets, detailing how the Act affects key stakeholders, was being developed.

The information sheets are now available on our website or can be viewed by following the links to PDF files below: