OCTOBER 2005

October saw Accord parties formally recognise a year’s progress at a function which was an opportunity for all those involved from other than Central Government to meet the new Minister for the Environment, the Hon David Benson-Pope.   To view the Accord Annual Report click… here

Notwithstanding the differing positions of the various parties on particular issues the common commitment to acceptable environmental performance has resulted in a solid first year outcome and formed the basis for a successful year two.

IN THIS ISSUE WE WILL COVER

If you are unable to read this newsletter or to use the links, please refer
to the online version which is on our website: www.packaging.org.nz/newsletter

Sector News

The latest from some of our sector groups

Ministry for the Environment

Glass

Local Government New Zealand

Paper

Recycling Operators of New Zealand

Case Study – Accord First Year Report - Highlights

New Zealand News

International News

Events Coming Up

SECTOR NEWS

Ministry for the Environment

EECA Energy Wise Awards 2006

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Energy Wise Awards 2006 showcase organisations and individuals that have proven innovation and brilliant thinking in energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. These awards are open to all New Zealand organisations and individuals.

The entry form is now available for download from the EECA website. All entries must be received by EECA no later than 5pm on Monday 21 November 2005.

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Glass

Continuing Glass Position still being developed

Parties to the “Glass Issue” have met recently on two occasions to develop an approach to the way forward now that the original period of levying the importers has concluded. While satisfactory alternative uses to glass making are still to be accepted a number of overseas options have been identified but require sign off for local conditions. All parties recognise the need to avoid lengthy expensive assessments for processes already accepted overseas. It is also accepted that it is not sensible to send to O-I’s Penrose plant, glass which can not be used.

However support for the levy scheme has been very good with the majority of contributors accepting the need for initial support of the existing programme while requiring the long term practical solution now under debate.

The final outcome will be announced shortly.

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Local Government

A café and gallery is just one of a range of exciting proposed activities and facilities being put forward to Waiheke Islanders for the redevelopment of the current transfer station into a resource recovery park. Consultation on proposals is now underway. Read more about these proposals at http://www.localgovt.co.nz/News/ViewFile.aspx?ID=1065.

The latest edition of the Sustainable Cities Update is now available at http://www.lgnz.co.nz/news/pr1130725751.pdf. The newsletter provides the latest information about a host of central and local government sustainable cities and urban affairs initiatives and events. To subscribe to this newsletter please email your details to info@lgnz.co.nz.

For the latest news about the local government sector see www.lgnz.co.nz or check out the latest edition of Local Government New Zealand’s newsletter, Local Government News, at http://www.lgnz.co.nz/news/lgnews/.

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Paper

Printing Industries New Zealand recently ran a series of seminars for members. The presentations were on changes to Tax resulting from the last budget and on ENVIRO-MARK® NZ.

Presenters from Landcare spoke about what Enviro-Mark was, the process involved, and successes of organisations that use the tool. The evidence shows that firms can obtain compliance, minimise their environmental impacts, reduce costs, and utilise the marketing advantages of being known as an environmentally active organisation.

It was pleasing to note that there were already a number of printing and paperboard packaging companies that are members and gaining very real benefits from using the Enviro-Mark process. It is hoped that these
presentations may be a catalyst for getting many more paperboard packaging and printing companies involved as part of their ''environmental'' efforts.

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Recycling Operators of New Zealand

RONZ Glass Recyclers Advisory Group (GRAG) held a second meeting on 25 August to review the current glass situation and discuss options for future long-term solutions.  GRAG members agree it was imperative to have an overview of current long-term markets/solutions prior to formalising recommendations on behalf of industry.

Enhance and improve your recycling initiatives and facilitate the correct separation of materials. National recycling symbols have been designed and developed to encourage the standardisation of recycling signage. 

An extensive range of symbols are available covering a number of classifications of material: glass, paper, metal, plastic, construction, organic, inorganic, and other. Each classification is differentiated by colour making it easier to identify the different material types.  All symbols can be downloaded (at no cost) from the RONZ website www.ronz.org.nz/nz_recycling_symbols/index.html

For further information contact:

Melissa Arseneault

email mel@ronz.org.nz

website www.ronz.org.nz

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MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2004 PACKAGING ACCORD – YEAR 1

Major achievements include:

-  A voluntary agreement by the majority of the direct glass importers to pay $1.5

   million to help sustain glass packaging recovery which also increased glass recovery

   to 50% despite the commercial challenges faced by this sector;

-  an impressive 72% recovery figure for paper packaging;

-   an increase in plastics packaging recycling by over 4000 tonnes with a 41% increase

    in the use of recovered materials by plastics manufacturers;

-  start up of a 10 year steel can recovery arrangement in parts of Auckland, including

   a wider range of steel packaging for collection: and

-  creation of a cross sector Environmental Beverage Action Group which has

   focused on finding solutions to allow people to easily recycle their drinks containers

   when they are away from their home or office.  

-  creation of a cross sector group – FGC Packaging Project Team – focusing on

   better packaging design/design guidelines, collection and repository of packaging

   information and dissemination to FGC members and liaison with other groups under

   the Accord.

-  creation of a Flexible Packaging and Rigid Packaging groups with an aim to put

   projects in place that help meet the objectives of the Packaging Accord, including

   the 23% plastics recovery target.  Both Flexible and Rigid meet regularly with other

   groups under the Accord.

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NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Council wants public input on waste plan

25/10/05 Christchurch residents are being asked for feedback on possible options for dealing with the city's household rubbish. 'Every person in Christchurch produced, either directly or indirectly, an average of 764 kg of landfilled waste last year,' says Council's Waste Planner, Tony Moore. 'That's more per person than in many parts of Auckland and many other developed countries, including parts of the United States. It affects us all and all of us need to take responsibility.'

Rotorua celebrates success of ‘Business Cleaner Production Programme’

6/10/05 Rotorua is celebrating the outstanding success of sixteen Rotorua businesses that have lowered their operating costs, cut water consumption and reduced landfill waste through participation in Rotorua’s innovative Business Cleaner Production Programme.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Waste strategy will abandon recycling and promote incineration says EEB

25/10/2005 The EEB, Europe's largest federation of environmental citizens' organisations, has raised concerns that the European Commission's Thematic Strategy for Waste Prevention and Recycling will abandon recycling and increase incineration.

Toolkit will transform councils into eco-champions

19/10/2005 Councils can play a real role in tackling global issues by addressing concerns on their own doorstep and leading by example, according to key figures in local Government.

Australians find some unique ways to remember their bags (AUS)
06/10/05  A recent competition run by Clean Up Australia has revealed that Australians are an inventive bunch when it comes to remembering their reusable bags.

Recycling could win with household lottery

5/10/05 Kerbside schemes up and down the country are to reward regular recyclers with cash prizes in an effort to boost rates. Throughout October some 50 schemes will be tempting householders to sort more of their rubbish by offering everything from scratch cards and hard cash to more community-oriented rewards for local schools and other worthy causes.

Survey Says: Gen Y Goes For The Green

28/09/05 NEW YORK -- Listen up Seventh Generation, Garden Burgers, Toyota Prius and other markers of "green" products: Findings from a survey released this week by Global Market Insite (GMI), an online market researcher, found Gen Y (people between the ages of 18 and 29) more likely to spend on organic, environmentally friendly or fair-trade products than other age groups.

Welsh ability to meet recycling targets looks in doubt

29/09/05  Wales is running out of space to bury its waste and must almost triple its recycling rates in the next four years if it is to meet its targets.

New figures show increase in English recycling

29/09/05  New figures published by Defra today show that recycling of household waste has doubled in the last four years

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EVENTS COMING UP

24 – 25 November 2005 Sustainable Packaging two day workshop – Auckland.  Hosted by the Packaging Council of NZ with support from Foodstuffs New Zealand, this workshop is presented by Dr Karli James and Helen Lewis from the Centre for Design, RMIT, Melbourne.

The aim of the workshop is to incorporate an overview of packaging sustainability including drivers for change, the Australian National Packaging Covenant & New Zealand Packaging Accord, eco design strategies, design for recycling and degradability, life cycle thinking and assessment, communications and marketing.

To view more go to http://www.packaging.org.nz/new.php

Back issues of ACCORDing to Packaging are available here

We welcome and encourage those involved in bringing the Packaging Accord 2004 to life to contribute to this newsletter.  Please send us your stories and comments so they can be shared with others.

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