Emissions Reduction: Waste And Recycling Sector In A Class Of Its Own

Waste and recycling leaders are welcoming figures released today that show that their sector is the only one nationally to achieve an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in recent decades.

The Government’s 2025 Greenhouse Gas Inventory reveals that, between 1990 and 2023, emissions from solid waste disposal fell by 14.2%, compared to a national increase in gross emissions of 13% over the same period. The reduction was achieved despite population growth and economic activity leading to increased waste volumes since 1990.

Waste & Recycling Industry Forum Executive Director Barney Irvine says the sector is something of an unsung hero when it comes to environmental performance.

“Our sector is one that people typically don’t like to pay much attention to, other than to occasionally poke holes.

“The reality is, this is a sector full of people and organisations that are really committed to environmental outcomes, and that are achieving some pretty amazing things.”

Mr Irvine says the reduction in emissions owes a lot to sustained investment in infrastructure and technology by industry over the past two decades. Most important has been the deployment of gas capture facilities, which enable landfills to collect the gases emitted by decomposing organic waste.

“Last year, landfills run by WRIF members captured close to 100 million tonnes of methane and converted it into electricity – that was enough to power around 31,000 homes,” says Mr Irvine.

While the sector has come a long way, Mr Irvine says there is always room to improve.

“To further reduce emissions, we’d like to see smaller, council-run landfills equipped with gas capture facilities. There also needs to be a lot more oversight of farm dumps – no one knows exactly how many are out there, but all the evidence suggests that they generate a lot of waste and, consequently, a lot of emissions.”

About the Waste & Recycling Industry Forum:

The Waste & Recycling Industry Forum represents the main private operators in New Zealand’s waste management sector, including:

• Enviro NZ
• Green Gorilla
• JJ Richards
• Northland Waste
• Oji Fibre Solutions
• Smart Environmental
• Visy
• WasteCo
• Waste Management NZ

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