Waste Policy Discussion: The Potential Unintended Consequences of a National Waste Levy

1. Introduction

2. Background

3. Generic Elements of the Draft National Waste Levy Proposal

4. Definition of 'Unintended Consequences'

5. Methodology

6. Possible Adverse Effects from the Introduction of a National Waste Levy

7. Discussion

8. Conclusion

5. Methodology

• A discussion document covering generic perverse outcomes potentially associated with the introduction of waste a waste levy was circulated to interested parties.
• Feedback on the generic perverse outcomes was included in the discussion document.
• A one day workshop was held in Auckland on 23 June 2006. The workshop was attended by Ministry for the Environment officials, local government, NGOs and industry.
• The first session of the workshop consisted of presentations given by Australian waste levy experts covering the implementation of levies in Victoria and New South Wales and the Australian Packaging Covenant.
• The second session involved discussion of different perverse outcomes as identified in the discussion document by panel members and participants.
• The final session of the workshop involved workshop participants identifying the design elements that should be used if a national waste levy were to overcome the perverse outcomes.
• Input from panel members and participants were used to produce this report.