Local & International Update

PLASTIC BAGS- SHOULD WE HAVE THEM OR NOT?

The Packaging Council and New Zealand Retailers Association encourage shoppers to cut down on the use of plastic shopping bags by only taking what they need - however they point out that plastic shopping bags represent just 0.2% of a landfill. Moreover many households use plastic shopping bags as liners for rubbish bins and people would have to buy alternate bags to replace their ubiquitous use in the home!

The Council's waste minimisation team is hosting guided tours of the Omaranui landfill including the new landfill extension, Olympic-size leachate pool, gas flare and storm water systems. The free, two-hour 'Slim Your Waste Line' walks, a joint venture between Sport Hawke's Bay and Hastings District Council, have already proved successful with the first of year taking place on 20th January. Four more walks are planned over the next six months.

Hastings District Council's waste minimisation officer Dominic Salmon said the feedback from participants had been very positive. "It's not an obvious choice for a weekend stroll but on a clear day the views over the Heretaunga plains and the coast are fantastic, and people seem to love seeing the behind the scenes workings of the landfill," Mr Salmon said.

IRISH PLASTIC BAG LEVY INCREASED

It is now five years since the Irish government's plastic bags levy was introduced and its success has attracted considerable international interest.

The levy had an immediate effect on consumer behaviour with plastic bag per capita usage decreasing overnight from an estimated 328 bags to just 21. This was an instant benefit for the environment with a decrease in excess of 95% in plastic bag litter. Surveys indicated that up to 90% of shoppers used long-life bags in 2003, compared with 36% in 1999.

Irish Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dick Roche, TD recently announced an increase in the levy to the maximum of 22 cent allowable under the existing legislation.

Income from the levy has been increasing and data from levies remitted and population estimates provided by the Central Statistics Office indicate that plastic bag usage rose to 30 bags per capita during the course of 2006.

Mr Roche said that the adoption of the increased levy was aimed at stemming the pattern of increased usage of plastic bags.

To date the levy has raised Eur75m. The Revenue Commissioners remitted Eur18.8m in 2006.

It is estimated that the use of disposable plastic shopping bags has been reduced by approx. 90% since its introduction. Prior to its introduction approx. 1.2 billion disposable plastic bags were given away free by retailers.

UK RETAILERS AGREE TO REDUCE CARRIER BAG CONSUMPTION BY 25% BY 2008

A group of UK retailers have agreed to reduce the overall environmental impact of their carrier bags by 25% by 2008.

However, behind the scenes it is understood that not all supermarket chains are fully happy with the 25% target, while the Local Government Association said today that the agreement does not go far enough. It wants retailers to be more innovative - and for more to consider giving customers reusable fabric bags in particular.

Nigel Smith, director of environmental policy at the British Retail Consortium, said: "Retailers are already rewarding re-use, promoting 'bags for life', using and developing alternative materials and trailing bigger bags that carry more shopping. They want to take that further."

He added: "Twenty-five per cent is an ambitious target for the industry as a whole. It will require the Government's support in encouraging customers to reduce, re- use, recycle and take an improved approach to household waste management."

FIRST STEPS ON KERBSIDE RECYCLING FOR KAPITI

The Kapiti Coast District Council today took the first steps in introducing a long awaited kerb-side recycling service which will start in December 2007.

Subject to finalising details of the contract structure and incentives for the collection services providers, the Council's Finance & Audit Committee agreed to proceed with a kerb-side recycling service in the district.

The contract for service will be with Manawatu Waste Ltd

With limited sources of revenue available to fund the service once the Otaihanga landfill closes early next year, the Council is exploring an innovative new partnership model with the private sector which provides opportunities for the Council to ensure the service is provided while reducing the long term risks and costs.

The new service will be a weekly one using 60 litre bins which will be available to all households currently receiving a collection service within the main urban areas. However, under the business model, there is potential for rural properties to receive the service as well.

The service will collect paper, cardboard, plastics (categories 1&2 initially but it is hoped this can be broadened in future) glass, tins and aluminium cans.

Further work is needed on preparing the contract for the new business model and the Council will not proceed until it is assured the contract is properly structured and incentives are in place.

The Council is also exploring the options around the development of a resource recovery/transfer facility at Otaihanga and improved transfer services at Otaki, in partnership with Midwest Disposals Ltd.

If the full facility proceeds, it will have a resource recovery floor to separate out useable material, a sorting building for kerb-side recyclables, a recycling drop off and processing line for recyclables as well as re-use centre and associated retail outlet.

At this stage the Council is seeking further information on detailed costs and the nature of the construction and operating contracts before any final decision is made to proceed.

The Council also approved a new tender for the supply of biodegradable plastic bags.

The Council is aware the bags are not as degradable as paper bags and it is committed to also providing paper bags. Further information and pricing for paper bags will be reported back in late April.

At the same meeting a new green-waste tender from Composting New Zealand was accepted. This is based on a variable cost around volumes received.

At the same time, however, the development of a new schedule for greenwaste charges to pay for the full cost of this service was approved. Even with the re-introduction of charges in January the costs of the service are still not being covered. The community cannot afford to have free greenwaste and kerbside recycling as well because revenue from the landfill will not be available in future to support these services.

One of the pricing options will aim to ensure people who bring only small quantities of green waste that can fit in a bag are charged by the bag rather than car or boot load as they are now.

There are still aspects of the solid waste review that remain to be finalised .

It is a complex area and the Council intends holding a number of information sessions so people can find out more about the detail of key initiatives.

HASTINGS RUBBISH BAG COST INCREASE

Hastings District Council has increased the cost of council rubbish bags in response to increased landfill fees, collection contract rates and the cost of purchasing the rubbish bags from the supplier.

Ross Franklin, Corporate Services Manager, said that the increase was inevitable due to the rising costs of disposing of refuse at the landfill. "Over the last two years the Omarunui landfill has undergone significant development to increase its capacity but this has brought with it an increase in costs," said Mr Franklin.

The purchase price of a rubbish bag covers not only the bag cost but also curbside pickup, disposal fees and landfill aftercare costs. Since the user-pays bag system was introduced two years ago landfill fees have increased by 66%, collection contract costs have risen11.5% and the cost of bags has increased by 7.5%.

CALL FOR REALISM ON WASTE

Business NZ says the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill is irrational and its proposed waste levy would be counter-productive to business and the community.

This follows an NZIER report: "Waste or rationality? Economic perspectives on waste management in New Zealand," commissioned by Business NZ and partner organisations

Chief executive Phil O'Reilly says it shows visions for a 'waste-free' New Zealand are severely disconnected from economic reality. "All modern, industrial societies produce waste and this is going to increase as our economy, population and consumption grows.

"It's good to reduce and recycle our waste, but at some point this will require communities to compromise on other things they want. The costs must be weighed up and balanced."

Mr O'Reilly says every dollar the country spends on reducing waste forgoes spending in areas such as health, education or infrastructure and it's important that our efforts to minimise the waste of materials are not wasteful of non-material resources such as time, energy and money by diverting them from other more valuable uses.

Business NZ supports efforts to reduce waste, but only to the extent they are practical and cost effective for the community. It believes rigorous cost-benefit analysis, exploring the consequences of waste recycling, disposal and restraint, is needed to justify greater direct government intervention in the market for waste.

For this reason Business NZ opposes the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill before Parliament, seeking provisions for a waste levy and increased producer responsibility, and recommends it does not proceed. "Goals to preserve New Zealand's clean, green reputation here and overseas are worthy of pursuit, but they should not drive us down a track that's irrational for business and communities," Mr O'Reilly says.

EFFECTIVE WASTE STRATEGIES AND SUSTAINABILITY ARE CENTRAL TO THE VISION OUR GOVERNMENT HAS FOR NEW ZEALAND IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Excerpts from Prime Minister's speech opening Awapuni Recycling Centre

As well as putting in place new strategies and policies in areas like energy, transport, water, waste, and land management, we are also leading from the front with plans to achieve carbon neutrality in the public service and to design sustainable procurement policies. We are thinking globally and acting locally - and so, I believe, is Palmerston North City.

The city has set a target of recovering 50% of its total waste stream within the next five years.

I applaud the decision to power this centre by recovering methane gas from the landfill - an initiative made possible by the sale of carbon credits on the international market. I congratulate the City on keeping ownership of the recyclables it collects, so that it can supply the recovered materials to businesses for remanufacture in New Zealand.

Palmerston North City is helping make our economy and our environment more sustainable. Reprocessing our waste is a very efficient use of resources - and not dumping waste into landfills is good for our environment.

STUDENTS TO CLEAN UP BEACHES

School children of all ages from Kaitaia to Invercargill will get sand between their toes during beach clean-ups as part of Seaweek 2007

Seaweek is a week long celebration of the sea, and this year's drive is to raise awareness about marine pollution and the need to protect New Zealand's marine ecosystems. Studies estimate 70 per cent of marine pollution originates on land - from either water discharges or litter. Many of New Zealand's beaches are a sad reflection of the amount of rubbish in the seas around its coasts.

Armed with educational packs, gloves and biodegradable rubbish bags, the schoolchildren will remove rubbish and are encouraged to recycle the waste collected if possible. Data on the refuse found will be sent to the Sir Peter Blake Trust, which will compile the information.

www.seaweek.org.nz

HASTINGS DISTRICT COUNCIL - WASTE WALK

Hastings District Council is giving people the opportunity to take a fresh look at rubbish.

The Council's waste minimisation team is hosting guided tours of the Omaranui landfill including the new landfill extension, Olympic-size leachate pool, gas flare and storm water systems. The free, two-hour 'Slim Your Waste Line' walks, a joint venture between Sport Hawke's Bay and Hastings District Council, have already proved successful with the first of year taking place on 20th January. Four more walks are planned over the next six months.

Hastings District Council's waste minimisation officer Dominic Salmon said the feedback from participants had been very positive. "It's not an obvious choice for a weekend stroll but on a clear day the views over the Heretaunga plains and the coast are fantastic, and people seem to love seeing the behind the scenes workings of the landfill," Mr Salmon said.

WRAP - THE BRITISH WASTE AND RESOURCES ACTION PROGRAMME

Recently held a high-level conference for members of the retail, packaging and recycling chain.

Delegates discussed opportunities for using more recycled PET in retail packaging. Retailers were told that every tonne of recycled PET plastic used in packaging their products would effectively save the equivalent of 1.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The highlighted the "huge" interest among UK retailers and their packaging suppliers in reducing packaging waste, raising recycling levels and using more recycled material.

Collections - One of the major barriers towards using more recycled PET in UK food packaging has been the availability of food-grade recovered PET. Current demand is at about 60,000 tonnes a year, but supply is only at 12,000 tonnes.

WRAP hopes to see as much as 200,000 tonnes of plastic bottles - of which 45% would be PET - being recycled in the UK each year by 2008.

Major new reprocessing infrastructure is being developed - with some plants anticipated to come online in the next 12 months. Rising virgin plastics prices and softening demand for UK plastics from China meant the economic climate was now right for reprocessing PET in the UK.

Environment - Over 60 life cycle analysis studies reviewed by WRAP had shown recycling was "clearly" better than incineration or landfill. The exception, he added, was for heavily-contaminated plastic bottles requiring strenuous washing to be recycled, in which he said studies suggested incineration could be the best environmental option.

Commenting on the 85% of plastic bottles currently going to landfill or incinerators, Mr Davidson said: "With one tonne of plastic bottles recycled saving more than 1.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide - in fact, it's nearer two tonnes of CO2 - we have no business burying or burning plastic bottles."

Dr Karel Wendl, principle engineer at Coca-Cola's Global Packaging Platform, said there were now 55 different technologies approved by the US government for recycling PET into food-grade packaging.

"Using recycled PET has been sometimes painful to get started, but now that collections are getting much better it's very encouraging. In our case we have been using recycled plastics in direct food contact applications safely, using multiple technologies, in 13 countries over 16 years. So far, we have not had any market quality issues," he said.

ASDA GOES BACK TO 1950S PACKAGING

ASDA has revealed plans to strip fresh fruit and vegetables of their plastic covers as part of a project that could transform the way goods are sold by the supermarkets, reports NAMNews* more…

In a trial next week, Asda is to revisit the days of the 1950s greengrocer by removing all packaging from most fresh produce at two stores in northwest England. A report in the Independent newspaper said that if buyers were not put off, the policy would be applied across the chain's 316 stores.

An Asda spokesman said, "The move heralds a return to old-fashioned retailing methods - the first step taken towards the past by any retailer for almost 60 years". She added that it could change the way people shopped. "We believe this return to traditional values could have a huge impact upon the amount of packaging thrown away every day. We believe our customers would prefer to shop in this traditional way if it means reducing waste and protecting our environment."

ECO-DESIGN STILL PIE-IN-THE-SKY

A major manufacturer has asserted that new waste electronics regulations at both a British and European level are too weak to encourage producers to design out waste, because they do not promote "full producer responsibility", as they are designed to.

Although the measures do shift waste management costs onto the makers of electrical appliances, the company said recycling targets are "very general". The company spokesman suggested developing more specific recycling targets for materials within electrical equipment would be the best way to drive design improvements.

Guarantees - Speaking at 'Waste & Recycling: A Forward Look' in central London, Sony's, Dr Mayers, noted that neither the UK, nor nine other Member States in the European Union had even implemented measures within the Directive requiring producers to make financial guarantees for the recycling of new products placed on the market after August 2005.

Dr Mayers did accept that it would be up to producers to find a solution. He said: "We can't really move to a model where we assume more responsibility for our products until the infrastructure is there. It needs to be cost-effective and it has to be a collective effort."

ILLEGAL WASTE SHIPMENT PROSECUTION SUCCESSES

In the UK, three companies have been prosecuted for improperly sending household waste to the Far East.

Preston-based Wai Sang (Europe) Recycle Ltd pleaded guilty to two charges under the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations on February 12.

February 19 saw Southall-based Alltrade Recycling Ltd pleading guilty to three charges under the same regulations, this time related to the export of hazardous waste televisions collected in Swansea and on February 20 South Yorkshire firm Grove Environmental pleaded guilty to charges related to the shipment of waste to China.

Under the regulations, recyclable waste can be exported for reprocessing abroad, but in order to send out the waste that was discovered, written consent from the environment agencies in all countries involved should have been obtained, as well as providing financial guarantees to cover the safe and lawful recycling of the waste.

Sending unsorted waste to other countries potentially puts people and the environment at risk if it's not dealt with and recycled properly.

CHINA ORDERS INVESTIGATIONS INTO FOREIGN WASTE IMPORTS (26.01.07)

The Chinese government is preparing to clamp down on illegal imports of waste - including material from Britain.

China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) has said that recent media reports from Britain had drawn its attention to the issue of waste material being smuggled into China.

Driven by profits, some dealers smuggle or associate with overseas organisations and illegally bring foreign garbage to China, endangering public health and the environment.

Some 42,000 tonnes of waste plastic were shipped to China from the UK during 2005 according to UK government figures.

Chinese law prohibits the import of solid wastes that cannot be used as raw materials or be recycled by harmless means. "Imports of waste that can be used as raw materials are limited and categorised by registration," it said.

Including paper and cardboard, the UK ships just less than two million tonnes of waste to China each year for recycling. Overall imports of foreign waste into China reached 33 million tonnes in 2004 - including some 70% of the world's electronic waste according to a Chinese government report published last year.

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Paper Sector

Efforts to meet the targets set out in the NZ Packaging Accord continue to be the focus for the paperboard packaging sector. We were very happy to meet our target for the 2nd year in a row, at a rate that is up there with the very best in the world (72%), but know that there is still a lot of work to do to reduce all types of paperboard and paper to landfill more…

As with all sectors, the buoyant commodities price has much to do with the success of the mass balance figures but if the demand for recycled paper were to reduce the results could be affected. With this in mind, NZPPA has been busy promoting the implementation of "Environmental Management Systems" (EMS) with members. Many are involved with Enviro-Mark and ISO and have developed systems that prove the benefits of being environmentally aware and will show continuing longer term benefits.

As part of this promotion NZPPA, with assistance of the Ministry for the Environment, has published a booklet of case studies in Environmental Sustainability from the Paper Sector - Making A Difference. Copies of the booklet are available from: Ashley Chisholm, NZPPA, C/o PrintNZ PO Box 31-131, Lower Hutt.

NEW ZEALAND PAPER FORUM

NZPPA has also been involved in the establishment of the New Zealand Paper Forum to help focus on the total "paper" sector. There is little robust data on paper and paperboard waste and one of the Forum's projects this year will be to begin to establish which approaches may be the best for New Zealand to deal with paper and paperboard waste streams to achieve longer term positive environmental outcomes more…

The paper sector has also been involved with submissions on the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill and to the Auckland City Council on kerbside recycling. PrintNZ has assisted with the sponsorship of a recent NZIER report "Waste or Rationality? Economic perspectives on waste management in New Zealand" commissioned by Business New Zealand. Chief executive Phil O'Reilly says it shows visions for a 'waste-free' New Zealand are severely disconnected from economic reality. "All modern, industrial societies produce waste, and this is going to increase as our economy, population and consumption grows. "It's good to reduce and recycle our waste, but at some point this will require communities to compromise on other things they want. The costs must be weighed up and balanced."

Mr O'Reilly says every dollar the country spends on reducing waste forgoes spending in areas such as health, education or infrastructure. He says Business NZ supports efforts to reduce waste, but only to the extent they are practical and cost effective for the community. It believes rigorous cost-benefit analysis, exploring the consequences of waste recycling, disposal and restraint, is needed to justify greater direct government intervention in the market for waste. More detail can be found on www.businessnz.org.nz. This is worth a read!

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