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SIGnals Issue Five

May 2006, INFO159

Welcome to this issue of SIGnals, the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment's e-newsletter linking you to advice and information on what's happening in the world of sustainable business.

SIGnals contains updates, tools, resources and case studies focused on helping industry compete and grow sustainably.

If you have any questions or comments please contact us via signals@mfe.govt.nz (also to have your name added or removed from the SIGnals mailing list), or phone (04) 439 7400.

In this issue...

The latest on sustainable industry initiatives

Link to additional Ministry projects and tools

The latest on sustainable industry initiatives

What’s happening with waste levies?

Interested parties are currently considering the options for using waste levies in New Zealand.

The Ministry for the Environment commissioned a report to gauge the current views of local councils and waste management sector on the issue of levies on waste. The report, Issues Associated with a Levy on Solid Waste – A Review of Positions and Possibilities was delivered in early 2006 and is available from the Ministry website. The Ministry also sought feedback from wider stakeholders on the report, as a way of gauging wider views on the issue of a waste levy. The report concludes that some form of funding source is required to improve waste minimisation, and diversion of waste from landfills.

In 2005, three Auckland local councils introduced by-laws that would allow waste operators to be licensed, and a levy to be charged on all waste collected. Waste industry companies responded by asking the High Court to review the Auckland councils’ decisions. The companies argued the legality of the by-laws, and that the councils exceeded their powers. The companies saw that the by-laws were invalid because of their uncertainty, and because councils did not have the power to tax. Christchurch City Council, which had earlier introduced a similar by-law, was included in the action.

The waste industry companies were also concerned about the development of an inconsistent approach to local waste levies, levies being charged on waste intended for recycling and “waste flight” (waste transported to other areas where levies could be avoided).

The councils acknowledged that the waste levies were a tax, but argued that the power to impose levies by way of taxes had been granted by Parliament.

The High Court has now declared the by-laws ultra vires and unreasonable, leaving the councils without the ability to impose local waste levies.

Prior to the release of the court decision, the Ministry convened a meeting with the waste industry, local government and other key stakeholders to understand the important issues. The waste industry and Auckland and Christchurch councils have demonstrated a high degree of agreement on the need for a waste levy to address waste diversion from landfill. Common ground identified in the meeting included:

  • Some form of additional funding source is desirable in order to bring about waste minimisation and diversion from landfills
  • The rate of any levy should be significant enough to encourage and to provide funds to support long term sustainable waste minimisation services and/or infrastructure
  • Any levy must not be used to adversely influence competition within the waste management sector
  • Any levy must be easy to implement and administer. A levy on waste deposited at landfills is seen as the most efficient point of capture
  • There is a need for a consistent price for the levy across the country, although variability in prices of waste disposal at landfills will remain, given the variability that currently exists
  • A significant proportion of money raised should be available for use by local authorities to fund local and regional waste minimisation solutions that can address local waste problems
  • Another proportion of the levy would be for some form of centralised contestable fund to meet the wider objectives of the New Zealand Waste Strategy.

Local government and industry representatives are currently preparing a proposal for the government’s consideration based on these principles. The Ministry is undertaking further policy work on this issue. This work includes identifying possible mechanisms by which to exact a levy, and how a levy and product stewardship could work together to drive waste minimisation. Further discussion on waste levies will take place this month.

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Product stewardship

In the meantime, the development of product stewardship policy is continuing.

Product stewardship is official government policy in the making, aimed at ensuring that industry take wider ownership of the full lifecycle effects of products they put on the market. This lifecycle includes design and the end-of-life care of products.

Product stewardship is a tool designed to look at specific products or sectors. This is different from a waste levy which is a tool to address residual streams that end up in landfills. These two tools are not antagonistic and are used overseas to support one another. Funds generated through a waste levy will be used to support new opportunities, potentially including those related to product stewardship.

The work on product stewardship is well advanced. The Ministry for the Environment intends to present a Cabinet paper to Government on product stewardship by mid-July and a proposal for legislation in Parliament by the end of this year.

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West Coast tackles tourism waste

Issues with tourism waste are moving forward, as several organisations have agreed to work together to tackle waste problems on the West Coast.

The four West Coast councils, the Department of Conservation, Transit New Zealand, Ministry for the Environment, Tourism West Coast, the Ministry of Tourism and tourism industry operators have decided to jointly fund further investigation to look at waste problems in the region. An action plan is being developed to make sure the West Coast remains ‘clean and green’ despite an increasing number of visitors in the region.

“None of the councils in the region have the resources to deal with the waste issues and pay for the solutions by themselves. Fortunately, a number of parties have now recognised that a joint approach is needed. It is great to see tourism operators among these parties. This is a first in New Zealand, and a great step forward for the West Coast region,” said Mayor Maureen Pugh of the Westland District Council.

The group expects to have the first results of their investigation ready by June 2006. Possible outcomes of the investigation could include improved signage, improving the waste awareness of visitors, or more strategically placed toilets and other waste disposal facilities.

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New government funding for clean-up of agricultural chemicals

The Government will fund the clean-up of unwanted and dangerous agricultural chemicals for another three years. The Ministry for the Environment and regional councils have been working together since 2003 to collect agricultural chemicals, mainly from rural properties. New Zealand will have safely disposed of 225 tonnes of old, unwanted and potentially dangerous agricultural chemicals by June 2006.

“The material we have removed is the nasty stuff that councils do not collect through their regular waste disposal facilities," said Rachel Depree, General Manager, Sustainable Industry Group at the Ministry for the Environment.

"Some of these chemicals are ‘persistent organic pollutants’ – meaning they do not break down in the environment. They include pesticides like DDT, dieldrin, PCBs and dioxins. These chemicals were banned in New Zealand some time ago but there is still some left, sitting mainly in sheds and garages. It won’t go away if we don’t clean it up,” said Ms Depree.

To date, the Ministry for the Environment has contributed $2.5 million through its Sustainable Management Fund to finance the clean-up project.

“We will keep working with local government to clean-up these agrichemicals from New Zealand, focusing on regions that have significant stockpiles of agrichemicals” Ms Depree confirmed.

The Ministry for the Environment has published a report that estimates the amounts of old and unwanted agricultural chemicals left in each region, Intractable Agricultural Chemicals in New Zealand.

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Government agencies ‘walk the talk’ on sustainable practice Logo for govt3.

Govt3 encourages central government agencies to improve the sustainability of their activities. Ninety percent of core government agencies have now committed to actively engage in the Govt3 programme. 24 of the agencies that signed up have provided detailed Sustainable Practice Action Plans. These plans illustrate the actions the agencies will take to achieve results in sustainable practice, such as energy use and waste minimisation.

Govt3 is facilitated by the Ministry for the Environment, and focuses on key areas where sustainability improvements can be made:

  • Sustainable buildings
  • Recycling and waste minimisation
  • For fuel efficient vehicles and greater use of public transport, cycling and walking
  • Office consumables and equipment including publishing, paper, cleaning services and environmentally friendly products.

Some examples of achievements under Govt3 are:

  • Transit NZ in one year reduced waste output by 51% over 7 regional offices and the national office.
  • The National Library, as a result of its energy management activities, now enjoys energy cost savings of more than $400,000 p.a.

For more information, please visit the Govt3 web pages.

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Cleaner screen productions at South Pacific Pictures

South Pacific Pictures, New Zealand's most prolific producer of film and television drama, has significantly improved its environmental performance.

South Pacific Pictures has implemented several environmental initiatives, including:

  • CarboNZero® Status for Shortland Street and Administration
  • A worm farm to divert organic waste from landfill
  • Double-sided printing of scripts and associated material to reduce paper consumption
  • An environmental policy
  • Establishment of a health, safety and environment group
  • Staff pack including a reusable mug, native seedling, cloth bag, personal ashtray, information about CarboNZero® and newsletter.

As a result of better recycling facilities onsite and better staff awareness, South Pacific Pictures decreased their recyclable glass, plastic and aluminium sent to landfill by 76%.

The initiatives at South Pacific Pictures were part of the development of the Greening the Screen toolkit, an initiative funded by the Ministry for the Environment, Landcare Research and Waitakere City Council.

For more information, visit the Greening the Screen website.

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Householders save money via insulation made from recycled glass

Tasman Insulation has developed a product that demonstrates sustainability in a number of exciting ways. Tasman Insulation’s Environmental Choice high R value Pink® Batts® Ultra are made using recycled glass. This means waste glass is being reused, and consumers can save money using the Pink Batts for home insulation, creating more energy efficient homes.

Tasman Insulation recently commissioned research on the insulation performance of residential homes, in order to understand the benefits of using Pink Batts for home insulation.

Cost savings from using the insulation will vary according to a number of factors, including building design, construction and location. However, the use of insulation can play a key role in reducing New Zealand residential energy use.

Tasman Insulation New Zealand General Manager, Bill Smith, says the project was especially useful in furthering knowledge of the relationship between insulation use and energy conservation.

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