New Zealand Waste Strategy

 

Overview

2002 New Zealand Waste Strategy

The first New Zealand Waste Strategy was published in March 2002 as a long-term strategy to help reduce and better manage waste in New Zealand.

The strategy contained 30 aspirational targets for improved waste management, waste minimisation and resource efficiency. Although packaging was not specifically identified as a high volume priority waste, nevertheless it was the genesis for the New Zealand Packaging Accord 2004-2009.

2006 Review of Targets

A review of the strategy’s targets in 2006 found that the foundations for minimising and managing waste in New Zealand had been laid and that good progress had been made on meeting the Strategy’s objectives.

However, progress against the Strategy's targets was found to be variable and more work needed to be done. The review also found that some of the targets were out of date or unmeasurable and they needed to be changed.

 

2009 Discussion Document

In March 2009, the Ministry for the Environment published a discussion document on waste minimisation, which included proposals to revise the targets in the New Zealand Waste Strategy.

 

2010 New Zealand Waste Strategy

Revised Waste StrategyIn October 2010, the Minister for the Environment, Hon Dr Nick Smith, published a revised New Zealand Waste Strategy to replace the 2002 waste strategy.

According to the Minister, the revised New Zealand Waste Strategy sets out the Government’s long-term priorities for waste management and minimisation.

The strategy’s two goals provide direction to local government, businesses (including the waste industry), and communities on where to focus their efforts in order to deliver environmental, social and economic benefits to all New Zealanders.

The goals are:

  • reducing the harmful effects of waste
  • improving the efficiency of resource use

 

Unlike the original 2002 waste strategy, the revised waste strategy is not focused on specific targets.  Instead, the revised waste strategy provides high level direction to guide the use of the legislative tools available to manage and minimise waste in New Zealand.

 

DOCUMENTS FOR DOWNOAD

2010 New Zealand Waste Strategy

Click here to read the 2010 Waste Strategy on-line or download a copy.

 

2009 Discussion Document - Waste Minimisation in New Zealand

  • Download the Packaging Council's submission on the proposals

 

2006 Review of Progress

 

2002 Waste Strategy

Download zip file of PDF's for entire document

 

For free printed copies of these documents, email the Ministry for the Environment - publications@mfe.govt.nz

 

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TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

77 Greenmount Drive, East Tamaki, Auckland 2013
PO Box 58899, Botany, Auckland 2163
PHONE 09 271 4044, FAX 09 271 4041
EMAIL: pac.nz@packaging.org.nz