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3. Generic Elements of the Draft National Waste Levy Proposal

A "Draft Proposal for a Waste Levy in New Zealand" has been designed by a group of councils (Waitakere City, Rodney District, North Shore City and Christchurch City) and waste company representatives, facilitated by the Ministry for the Environment. Final disposal means waste destined for landfills and incinerators. Waste destined for cleanfills and monofills would be considered subsequently. Waste destined for export is not included.

The proposal is essentially a levy on all solid waste going to final disposal in New Zealand and has the following features:

  • A uniform levy collected at all waste disposal facilities based on the weight of waste destined for final disposal; ie, it would not be paid on materials recovered for beneficial uses, including composted green waste.
  • Incorporation of the levy directly into the charges for waste disposal.
  • A system to account for and verify the collection of the levy and for payment of the levy to an administering agency.
  • A mechanism to administer a system to collect and account for levy revenues (this could be a separate agency).
  • A mechanism to distribute the revenue and account for the expenditure of the revenue.
  • Funds either tied to waste activities or levy revenue appropriated by government for waste minimisation activities.
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