8th November 2007
NEWS RELEASE
Packaged Goods Industry says that revised Waste Bill provides a chance to get it right first time
The Packaging Council today told the Select Committee hearing the Supplementary Order Paper to the Waste Bill that the
recommendations in its submission reflect the opinions of the vast majority of New Zealand’s packaged goods industry.
Paul Curtis, Executive Director of the Packaging Council said that industry welcomed the much improved proposed
legislation, but believes that there are key parts which need to be strengthened to provide greater clarity for everyone
about what is subject to legislation and for what reason; and how funds raised will be spent.
“We are absolutely committed to the Packaging Accord which was the first voluntary product stewardship programme in New
Zealand and is an agreement that involves industry, local and central government and the recycling sector. We recommend
this as the model for other voluntary schemes and will be starting the process of negotiating the next Accord in early
2008. Where an industry sector is not willing or able to come to the table with a properly constructed voluntary scheme,
legislation may be the most appropriate solution but the notion of priority products requiring mandatory product
stewardship schemes has been introduced from left field.”
“We are recommending amendments which would both motivate industry to invest in voluntary schemes and set a clearer
framework for determining what constitutes a priority product. A decision to legislate across a product group or sector
will impact the whole economy and cannot be made on the whim of public concern which can be whipped up by the latest
sound-bite. The decision to legislate has to be based on the economic and scientific facts alone.”
Mr Curtis told MPs that whilst the Packaging Council is not convinced that the introduction of a waste levy is the most
efficient way to provide funds for waste minimization, it accepts that there has been broad support for this tax. The
Packaging Council will be seeking an exemption from the levy for waste generated from recycling, for example the
residual contaminated clay from paper pulping, to overcome the perverse outcome that the levy would otherwise increase
the cost of recycling and could make some recycling operations unviable.
“To make economic sense however funds need to be directed to initiatives of national strategic importance thereby
consolidating waste streams, building capacity and volume and developing new markets. If industry is going to fund waste
minimization, then it should at least know that it’s going to be money well spent. Simply allocating 50% of the funds on
an uncontested basis to 85 local councils based on population will lead to huge amounts of wasted money and have a
limited impact on the country’s waste. On this we agree with many parts of the waste management industry who would like
to see a 100% contestable fund.”
“We are also concerned that the SOP seems to be creating a hybrid situation where some matters of waste minimisation
are decided at local level and some at national level with no clear indication which is to prevail. The prospect of
significant inconsistencies between regions has the potential to make for intolerable business operating conditions for
companies that operate nationally.”
“To address this, we believe that it is entirely reasonable that territorial authorities should be required to take into
account existing regulations or product stewardship schemes when making a bylaw or amending an existing by-law.
Otherwise the very best of local intentions could give rise to the very worst of national unintended consequences.”
Mr Curtis told the Select Committee that the private and public sector are on the same page in wanting to get a
sustainable waste management policy for New Zealand and the amendments suggested would help get it right first time.
The Packaging Council’s submission to the Select Committee is available on www.packaging.org.nz.
Ends