re:source
Rethinking Waste Potential
Issue 4, INFO 402
May 2009
Welcome to the fourth 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:
- re:source survey – help us improve!
- Public consultation update – Waste Minimisation in New Zealand
- Territorial authorities obligations under the Act – update
- Holcim first to receive accreditation certificate
- Foodstuffs set to charge for plastic bags
re:source survey – help us improve!
We want re:source to be a valuable tool for our stakeholders and therefore would like your input into how it can be improved.
To help us deliver a newsletter that best suits your needs please spend a couple of minutes sharing your views with us by completing our online survey
Please complete your survey by 19 May 2009.
For help please email: waste@mfe.govt.nz
Public consultation update – Waste Minimisation in New Zealand
During March and April 2009 the Ministry held consultation workshops at 10 locations around New Zealand to help people prepare their submissions on the Waste Minimisation in New Zealand discussion paper.
Over 300 representatives from local government, organisations and businesses interested in waste minimisation attended the workshops.
To view the workshop presentations please follow the links below:
Submissions on the discussion paper close on 15 May. The Ministry will summarise submissions and use them to help develop policy on the five topics covered in the discussion paper.
Link to submission forms on the Ministry website.
Territorial authorities obligations under the Act – update
The Ministry for the Environment is working with territorial authorities to help them understand their new obligations under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.
To comply with the Act, territorial authorities are required to review their waste management and minimisation plans by 1 July 2012. These plans must have regard to the New Zealand Waste Strategy.
Guidance for territorial authorities on waste management and minimisation planning will be available in late May.
For more information please contact: waste.ta@mfe.govt.nz
Holcim first to receive accreditation certificate
On 21 April, Geocycle (a division of Holcim New Zealand Ltd) became the first organisation to receive accreditation for a product stewardship scheme under the Waste Minimisation Act.
Under Geocycle’s recovery programme, used oil is collected from participating service stations by licensed collectors and then shipped to Westport Works where it is used for energy recovery in Holcim’s cement manufacturing process. In 2007, the programme recovered 13 million litres of used oil.
“Burning used oil in Holcim’s high temperature cement kilns is good practice environmentally because it deals effectively with contaminants, plus it reduces the need for coal to fuel the kiln", said Martyn Pinckard, General Manager of the Ministry’s Sustainable Business Group.
“The Government has acknowledged the effort by giving Holcim official endorsement for their scheme."
Geocycle’s Used Oil Recovery Programme served as a first trial of the accreditation process. The programme has been independently assessed against the requirements of the Waste Minimisation Act.
The Ministry is now working on the supporting business processes and online guidance tools for accreditation. These will be available late in 2009.
In preparation for the release of the accreditation guidance we encourage organisations to review their current schemes against the requirements in section 14 of the Act. These are the criteria which you will be assessed against if you choose to apply for accreditation certification.
For more information please email: waste@mfe.govt.nz
Foodstuffs set to charge for plastic bags
From August the supermarket giant Foodstuffs, owner of New World, Four Square and Pak 'n' Save, will begin charging shoppers 5 cents a bag for plastic bags.
The move shows an alignment with the product stewardship section of the Waste Minimisation Act, which encourages organisations to take responsibility for the environmental effects of their products.
The Ministry commends Foodstuffs for introducing this initiative and looks forward to seeing other organisations take steps to reduce the environmental impact of their products by coming up with similar schemes.
For more information please email: waste@mfe.govt.nz
