Next steps on plastic waste

The Government will phase out more single-use plastics following the success of its single-use plastic bag ban earlier this year and the recent release of a pivotal report for dealing with waste.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed the Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand report, released by her Chief Science Advisor Prof Juliet Gerrard.

Highlighting there is more we can do and our next steps to tackle plastic waste include:

• Setting goals to shift away from low-value and hard-to-recycle plastic
• Our first target will be to move away from single-use packaging and beverage containers made of hard-to-recycle PVC and polystyrene.
• Stimulate innovation and development of solutions to the soft plastic problem
• Accelerate work with local government and industry on better and more consistent kerbside collection of recyclables

Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage said the report reaffirms and extends the Government’s ambitious plan to reduce waste, which includes:

• A container return scheme for drink bottles and cans
• Regulated product stewardship schemes for tough waste issues such as e-waste, tyres and batteries
• A National Resource Recovery work programme in response to China and other countries’ bans on importing waste and recyclables
• Improving waste data
• Expanding and improving the landfill levy to help fund more ways to recover, re-use and reprocess materials
• A $40 million Provincial Growth Fund investment to turn plastic waste into useful material for businesses and consumers.

It is emphasised that a lot of this plastic waste doesn’t need to be created in the first place.

To enhance New Zealand as a sustainable visitor destination the goal must be to make Aotearoa an economy where plastic rarely becomes waste or pollution.

The Rethinking Plastics report is due to be confirmed within six months.  Read more here.