Skip to main content.

SIGnals Issue Six

September 2006, INFO175

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:

Other Ministry news:

Link to additional Ministry projects and tools:

The latest on sustainable industry initiatives

The latest on waste

Organic Waste

Good progress is being made on dealing with organic waste.  Unit standards for organic waste (or compost) have recently been developed by the Extractive Industries Training Organisation and the Resource Recovery Sector Advisory group. Unit standards provide qualification standards and training resources for people who handle organic waste.

The industry that collects this waste has not, until recently, had any specific accredited industry training or qualifications. Qualification standards and training resources will help to underpin the industry’s drive towards improving their operation to meet the demands for consistency and quality from the users of their products.

Construction and demolition waste

Waste from construction and demolition (C & D) activities is a large source of waste in New Zealand – it makes up to 50 percent of all waste generated in New Zealand, 20 percent of all waste going to landfill and 80 percent of all waste going to clean-fill.

C & D waste is made up of a wide variety of materials including concrete, plasterboard, wood, steel, brick and glass. Much C & D waste can be reduced, re-used and recovered, dramatically reducing the amount thrown away.

The Ministry is working on a number of initiatives to reduce C & D waste, in line with the New Zealand Waste Strategy. These initiatives focus on providing tools and resources for the construction and demolition industries, and promoting these tools to other industry sectors.

A set of guidelines developed during the Resource Efficiency in Building and Related Industries (REBRI) project is the primary tool the Ministry is using to reduce C & D Waste. The project looked to reduce the amount of waste being created by improving resource efficiency.

The Ministry has recently commissioned a case study to look at building capacity for waste reduction within an industry, testing the REBRI guidelines and reducing waste created on a specific building site. Construction companies are receptive to the guidelines, and eager to see how they can improve their own processes and reduce waste. For example, waste reduction of timber waste is taking place on a Meridian Energy building site in Wellington. Timber waste is being sorted between treated and non-treated, with the un-treated timber being diverted for chipping as mulch. We will keep you updated on this case study in further editions of SIGnals.

In addition, industry is undertaking voluntary initiatives to address construction and demolition waste. One example is the New Zealand Institute of Architects, who are promoting to their members sustainable building and waste reduction techniques in the design of buildings.

Waste Policy

The Ministry for the Environment is working on a range of waste policy issues, such as waste levies and product stewardship. Visit the Ministry’s waste issues web page for the latest information on these issues. This information is being updated regularly.

Back to top

New work begins to address changing climate

Government agencies are rolling up their sleeves to start work on a series of programmes and initiatives to address climate change.

The work programmes – called Climate Solutions – were recently approved by the Government as part of New Zealand’s wider climate change response. This response includes recognising climate change as a long-term, strategic issue for New Zealand. Hon David Parker, Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues, says the programmes, which will be implemented across government, including by the Ministry for Environment, will help New Zealand prepare for and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.

“The Government is looking at its long-term policy settings around climate change. There has been much focus on the Kyoto Protocol response for 2008-2012. While this remains important, it is only a subset of climate change,” says Mr. Parker.

“We are looking at how New Zealand can meet, over the coming decades, the challenges posed by climate change – to our economy, environment and way of life. Accordingly, the focus of the work programmes is first and foremost on the long term.”

Work programmes include considering an increased focus on managing the impacts of climate change, developing an energy strategy, options for managing deforestation, and finding effective methods of reducing agricultural emissions.

“There are no easy answers to the problem posed by climate change. The Government is looking at a wide array of measures. Over the coming months, ministers and officials will be engaging extensively with the various groups affected as we progress towards final policy decisions,” says Mr. Parker.

The first conversation on the future direction of climate change policy was hosted jointly by Minister Parker and the Ministry for the Environment in Auckland on 3 August.

Minister Parker says there will be opportunities for other interested parties to be involved in the engagement process. Further public consultation is expected later in 2006.

The report Climate Solutions, Whole of Government Climate Change Work Programmes is available from the climate change website.

Back to top

Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Fourth National Communication now available

The New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990 – 2004 and New Zealand’s Fourth National Communication have now been published.

The New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory is compiled annually, and reports on the emissions and removals of greenhouse gases from six sectors: energy; industrial processes; solvents; agriculture; land-use, land-use change and forestry; and waste.

New Zealand’s Fourth National Communication provides a snapshot of New Zealand’s progress in implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It covers trends in New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions and removals, policies and measures, projections of emissions and removals, research and observations, financial assistance and technology transfer, climate change impacts and adaptation, and public participation and awareness activities. This publication also contains New Zealand’s reports on the Global Climate Observing System and on Demonstrable Progress under the Kyoto Protocol.

These publications are required under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, and are an essential part of the Ministry’s ongoing reporting on the state of New Zealand’s environment.

You can download both publications from the links above, or request a printed copy by phoning (04) 439 7546 or emailing publications@mfe.govt.nz.

Back to top

European Emissions Trading Scheme – an update

Ministry staff attended a recent industry-focused conference in Brussels, looking at the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). Various European businesses shared their experiences with the scheme, and main points of interest for New Zealand include:

  • calls were made for better methods of setting emission caps, with strong advocacy for benchmarking from both NGOs and industry (benchmarking is similar to New Zealand’s world’s best practice approach),
  • most European countries gave the industrial sector (cement, steel, aluminium etc.) a generous trading allocation, while the power sector are given relatively tight trading allocations,
  • there was general consensus that the scheme is working and improvements in allocation and more consistency will enhance the scheme,
  • some companies involved have found it challenging to set up corporate management structures to deal with carbon trading, highlighting the need for firms to prepare for such a measure,
  • the EU-ETS price volatility was expected by many experts, and it appears to have caused less concerns for those at the conference than what some New Zealand commentators have expressed.

Information from this conference will inform ongoing climate change work.

Back to top

Recognising Sustainability in Design - Best Design Awards 2006

Designers are uniquely positioned to influence the environmental impacts of products they design, by ‘designing out’ the environmental impacts of their products. There is growing market interest in products made with sustainability in mind. Designers therefore have the opportunity to tap into this market by using sustainable product design principles.

In recognition of this, the Designers' Institute of New Zealand included for the first time a new Sustainable Product Design category in the 2006 BeST Design Awards.

The BeST Design Awards is a major annual event for the design profession. This new category is a way to celebrate and encourage increasing efforts being made by designers in sustainable product design. The category is also a way to recognise the many exciting opportunities offered by sustainable product design, where designers can help deliver innovative sustainability ideas to the marketplace.

Conscious Design Ltd won the Best of Category for Sustainable Product Design with their Tio Chair, a settee chair made from South Island pine and featuring its own interchangeable wardrobe. The judges said the Tio Chair was an "elegant product that has sustainable design well integrated into the core concept, from careful choice of materials, through to strategies for upgrading and renewing the product."

For more information, visit the Best Design Awards and Designers' Institute of New Zealand websites.

Back to top

Huge increase in environmentally friendly products

The number of New Zealand businesses holding, or in the process of qualifying, for Environmental Choice certification in the last year has more than doubled – at this stage the increase is 120 per cent. There are now over 700 Environmental Choice accredited products.

Environmental Choice New Zealand is New Zealand's official accredited eco-label. Environmental Choice accreditation provides a credible and independent guide for consumers who want to purchase products that are better for the environment. Environmental Choice products are preferentially used by Government departments.

In addition, the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust, who manages the Environmental Choice label, has recently facilitated the entry of New Zealand eco-labelled goods into overseas markets. Premiums are often paid in overseas markets for products which are certified as environmentally preferable.

The Laminex Group, a division of Fletcher Building Products Ltd, is the newest Environmental Choice licensee in New Zealand. Laminex have recently launched an “MDF” board, branded as Lakepine® Zero. This product meets the increasing demand for building materials with lower formaldehyde emission levels. The product is primarily for use in applications such as office desks and workstations.

“It is increasingly easy to find properly assessed, environmentally preferable products in a wide range of product categories,” says Robin Taylor, General Manager of the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust. “All people have to do is look for the black and green Environmental Choice tick.”

For more information, visit the Environmental Choice website.

Back to top

Eco Design Advisors for Three Local Councils

Three Councils are set to benefit from a BRANZ pilot scheme offering an advisory service in eco-design of buildings.

Waitakere, Hamilton City and Kapiti Coast District Councils have made arrangements with BRANZ to implement the scheme, which will see an Eco Design Advisor offering practical advice on sustainable design principles in housing.

The scheme is being offered to Councils in an effort to make some of the findings of sustainability research conducted by BRANZ available to designers, builders and homeowners. "We know that given the choice, people willingly adopt eco-friendly practices as part of their lifestyle. It is the same with the buildings they live and work in. Our research over a number of projects shows that eco-friendly building design, building materials, energy and water management systems create a lot of market interest. Making an Eco Design Advisor available to Councils is a practical way of transferring the outcomes of this research to those who are most likely to use it," said Roman Jaques, who manages the scheme.

The scheme started in September 2006, and may be extended to other Councils after the ten-month pilot. The project is jointly funded by the Ministry for the Environment, Building Research, the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology as well as the three participating councils.

Back to top

Vodafone Mobile Phone Recycling Programme

Vodafone, together with Recycle NZ, is making it easy for people to return their mobiles and accessories for reuse or recycling through a new Mobile Recycling programme.

People with old mobiles or accessories (like batteries and phone chargers) that weigh up to 25kg can drop them in to any Vodafone retail store or send FREEPOST to “Freepost, Vodafone Handset Recycling Programme, Private Bag 92222, Auckland Mail Centre”.

Alternatively, large companies, government departments or schools can contact Vodafone at recycling.nz@vodafone.com to talk about holding a Mobile Recycling Week. Vodafone will arrange delivery and pick up of recycle bins, and also help organisations with promoting the recycling week.

Once collected, mobiles are kept at a secure storage facility before being sent to a mobile phone recycling company. Phones are refurbished for reuse, or recycled to become things like traffic cones, bin liners, buckets, coasters or copper pipes.

Back to top

Computer recycling made easy - Dell NZ’s E-Day

People with old unwanted computer equipment disposed of it for free on 2 September 2006 at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington, during New Zealand's first free computer recycling collection, provided by Dell NZ.

Fifty four tonnes of computer hardware, including monitors, keyboards and printers of all brands were collected. Over 1250 people brought along their old equipment, which will be recycled or disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. On average 97 per cent of volume of material recovered is recycled.

The aim of the event was to highlight the problem of e-waste, and provide an alternative to landfill disposal. Computers dumped in landfills can leach chemicals into the ground. Also, computers contain metals, glass and plastic which can and should be recycled.

The event was supported by the Ministry for the Environment and Computer Access New Zealand Trust. Volunteers from various government departments, Dell NZ, and the community helped work to make the event a great success.

"I congratulate Dell on their commitment to recycling and for setting an example of how industry can manage the environmental impact of the goods they produce, from product development through to end use," said Mr David Benson-Pope, Minister for the Environment.

Dell's initiative is an example of product stewardship, one of the Ministry for the Environment's major work programmes to deal with special waste. It is based on producers, brand owners, importers, retailers, consumers and other parties accepting responsibility for the environmental effects of their products - from the time they are produced until they are disposed of.

Mr Benson-Pope said it is encouraging to see industry working to find practical ways to improve environmental management of waste in New Zealand.

A UMR survey in January showed 77% of New Zealand households have at least one computer, with 38% of households replacing their computer every two to five years.

Back to top

Other Ministry news

Talk Environment Roadshow

Talk Environment, the Ministry’s flagship event, is out on the road from 27 October to 10 November 2006. The Ministry will be visiting regions throughout New Zealand to talk with business, community groups and local government about the Ministry’s work for the environment. Topics include water, waste, national environmental standards, environmental reporting and climate change.

Keep an eye out for more details on dates and venues on our Talk Environment web pages.

Back to top

Upcoming Industry Liaison meetings

The Ministry for the Environment will host Industry Liaison meetings in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in October this year. Representatives from key industry sectors around New Zealand are invited to these meetings. The meetings provide updates from the Ministry about initiatives relevant to New Zealand industry, and also include open discussion on topics relevant to sustainable business practice.

Please phone (04) 439 7407 or email emma.williams@mfe.govt.nz if you’d like to attend these meetings.

Back to top

New information material to help business work with the Resource Management Act

The Ministry for the Environment has published new information material to help small and medium business ‘get in on the Act’ and better understand RMA processes.

A CD-ROM, 13 booklets, new web pages and a free phone information line were launched by Environment Minister Benson-Pope in September.

The booklets and web pages will inform business about how to apply for a resource consent, make a submission on other people’s plans and get involved in the development of RMA plans.

The interactive CD-ROM is a practical tool with electronic forms, tip sheets and movies that explain resource consent and submission processes, contact details for councils and links to useful other resources.

You can pick up a free CD-ROM and booklets at your local council, a public library, Biz Information Centre or a Citizen Advice Bureau near you. Alternatively, you can order them from the Ministry for the Environment by emailing publications@mfe.govt.nz.

The new web pages can be viewed at www.rma.govt.nz.

The number for the free phone information line is 0800 RMA INFO (0800 762 4636), and it operates weekdays between 9 am and 4.30 pm.

Back to top