Page 32 - Plastics News August 2019

FEATURES

New Zealand releases public consultation to reduce waste

he New Zealand Government has released a public puts the responsibility for effective material and waste
Tconsultation document to focus on reducing waste, management on product manufacturers, importers,
including plastic packing and bottles, from entering retailers and users, rather than on communities, councils,
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and priority product stewardship scheme guidelines’, The government has also proposed various priority
offers new ways to tackle products that damage the product categories for regulated product stewardship
environment.
schemes, including packaging such as beverage containers
According to New Zealand Environment associate and plastic wrapping. Other products mentioned in the
minister Eugenie Sage, introducing well-designed product consultation include tyres, electrical and electronic
stewardship schemes will allow manufacturers, sellers and products, refrigerants and other synthetic greenhouse
consumers to support gases, agrichemicals and their containers, as well as other
the government by farm plastics.
taking responsibility In addition, the consultation document proposes that the
to recover the government work with business and other stakeholders
materials and to co-design a regulated product stewardship scheme
prevent them from for tyres. Sage concluded: “Today’s proposal also
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Sage added: “This is PDWHULDOV SUHVHQWO\ ORVW WR ODQGÀOO FRXOG EH UHFRYHUHG DQG
the first time the reused throughout the economy creating new business
government has opportunities and new jobs.
been serious about creating regulated, rather than
voluntary, product stewardship schemes in New Zealand. “One example is reprocessing ‘waste’ plastic bottles back
into food packaging, which creates less need for imports
“Like other countries, New Zealand’s economy is based RQ QHZ SODVWLF ÁDNH IRU ERWWOH PDQXIDFWXUH 3URGXFWV WKDW
on a ‘take, make and dispose’ model, which treats nature have reached the end of their life can be used to make
and the resources it provides as ‘free’ and disposable. something new, especially if they are designed better for
Regulated product stewardship is a step towards changing reuse and recycling. “There is strong industry, council
that and to designing waste out of production. “This is and community support for the government to ‘level
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low-emissions, sustainable and inclusive economy for better incentives to reduce waste and diverting materials
New Zealand. Regulated product stewardship helps
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Plastics News August 2019 32