Hon Trevor Mallard
Minister for the Environment

16 October 2008 Media Statement

Waste Advisory Board appointed

A new advisory board has been appointed to provide advice to the Environment Minister on issues relating to waste minimisation, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard said today.

The Waste Advisory Board has members from business and communities with extensive experience in the waste area. The board is charged under the Waste Minimisation Act with providing independent advice to the minister and Ministry for the Environment on waste minimisation issues.

"The Waste Advisory Board will add a fresh perspective on waste minimisation issues, including the waste minimisation fund and product stewardship," Trevor Mallard said.

"I am very pleased with the high calibre of the board’s members. I believe they have the combined knowledge, skills and experience to provide me with sound advice on matters outlined in the Act.

"The idea of introducing a board received much support through the submissions on the Waste Minimisation Act.

The Waste Advisory Board members are chair Rob Fenwick, Lynne Kenny, Morris Love, John Pask, Sheryl Stivens, Lesley Stone and Nandor Tanczos.

All members were appointed after a public call for nominations and were selected for their knowledge, skills and experience relating to the Waste Minimisation Act, community projects for waste minimisation, industry (including the commercial waste industry), local government and tikanga Māori.

"Now that the Act is in force, I want to start implementing key provisions such as consulting on which products should be priority products, product stewardship schemes, criteria for the funding of waste minimisation projects and the information requirements to implement and monitor the effectiveness of the Act. The board's initial work will be in providing advice on these areas, so proposals can go out for public consultation early next year," Trevor Mallard said.

The Waste Minimisation Act offers economic incentives and rewards to businesses and councils who act to reduce the waste caused by their products. Under the Act's product stewardship clauses, producers, brand owners, importers, retailers, consumers and other parties take responsibility for the environmental effects of their products – from ‘cradle-to-grave’. Product stewardship is mandatory for products that are declared to be "priority" products. (see also other background information on the Act below).

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Short biographies of members of the Waste Advisory Board

Rob Fenwick (Chair)
Rob Fenwick is the founding director of Living Earth Ltd, New Zealand’s largest organic waste management and composting business. He is also on the Executive Council of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development and is a previous Chair of LandCare Research. He has extensive experience in waste recovery and is a waste management entrepreneur.

Lynne Kenny
Lynne Kenny is the contract environmental operations manager for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council. In particular, she is responsible for the operation and maintenance of solid waste facilities and waste minimisation initiatives. She has significant practical experience of waste management from a local government perspective.

Morris Love
Morris Love is a specialist in Maori resource management issues and has been director of the Waitangi Tribunal and manager of the Maruwhenua unit at the Ministry for the Environment. He has broad tikanga Māori and governance board experience that will be invaluable to the Waste Advisory Board.

John Pask
John Pask is an economist with Business New Zealand - New Zealand’s largest business advocacy organisation. In the past he has been the deputy policy director of Federated Farmers of New Zealand and the policy manager of New Zealand Employers’ Federation. He has extensive knowledge and understanding of business systems and processes.

Lesley Stone
Lesley Stone is the environmental coordinator for the office of the Vice Chancellor and property services at the University of Auckland. She has lectured and undertaken research on environmental management with a focus on waste recovery and cleaner production.

Sheryl Stivens
Sheryl Stivens is currently the general manager of the WasteBusters Trust Canterbury. She has been elected (three times) to the Executive Board of Recycling Operators of New Zealand (RONZ). She is well regarded in the community sector and has excellent networking skills.

Nandor Tanczos
Nandor Tanczos has been a member of parliament for the Green Party from 1999 to 2008. He was responsible for introducing the Waste Minimisation Bill to the House and seeing the Bill through to the second reading. He has significant cross-sectoral knowledge and a thorough understanding of the Act.

Functions of the Waste Advisory Board
As specified by section 88 of the Act, the purpose of the Waste Advisory Board is to provide the Minister for the Environment with advice about:
a. declaring priority products
b. making guidelines for product stewardship schemes
c. accrediting product stewardship schemes
d. regulations that prohibit the sale of priority products
e. regulations on products, materials and waste
f. specifying criteria for the funding of waste minimisation projects
g. reviewing the effectiveness of the waste disposal levy
h. regulations on the imposition of, and rate of, the waste disposal levy
i. regulations on records, information and reports.

The Waste Minimisation Act also provides for
• the introduction of a $10 a tonne (plus GST) levy on all waste disposed of in landfills from July 1 2009
• the introduction of a contestable fund (using the revenue from the waste levy) to help local government, communities and businesses minimise waste. In addition, this will help reduce waste of all types going to landfill by encouraging people to consider alternatives to disposal
• requirements for territorial authorities and operators of landfills and recycling facilities to report on waste
• clarification of the role and responsibilities of territorial authorities in waste minimisation
• Product stewardships schemes for "priority products". Examples of product stewardship could be businesses taking back unwanted products from their customers for reuse or recycling or manufacturers choosing environmentally friendly materials when making a product.

For further information go to http://www.mfe.govt.nz/laws/waste-minimisation.html

ENDS

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