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Purpose of this document

The purpose of this discussion document is to seek your feedback on policy proposed to implement the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 (the Act).

As part of the consultation process, we are seeking your feedback on five topics:

  • Part 1: Revising targets for the New Zealand Waste Strategy
  • Part 2: Identifying products that are priorities for product stewardship
  • Part 3: Identifying funding criteria for the Waste Minimisation Fund
  • Part 4: Monitoring waste in New Zealand
  • Part 5: Improving the operation of the waste levy.

We have included questions in each of the five parts which may be useful to help formulate your feedback. For easy reference, these questions have also been listed together in appendix A.

This discussion document contains the substantive elements of a regulatory impact statement for those Parts which the regulatory impact statement requirements apply to.

How to provide feedback

Submissions close at 5.00 pm on Friday 15 May 2009.

We encourage you to send feedback using the electronic submission form available on the Ministry’s website at: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/survey/x09wastediscdoc.htm

If you do not have access to the internet, a printed version of the feedback form is provided in appendix A. Please post to:

Waste Discussion Document Submissions
Ministry for the Environment
PO Box 10362
Wellington 6143

You can also email your submission to: waste@mfe.govt.nz

Ministry for the Environment contact

For further information, the Ministry for the Environment contact is: Owen Cox, phone (04) 439 7647, or email: owen.cox@mfe.govt.nz

What happens with your feedback?

A list of submissions received will be posted on the Ministry’s website. All submissions received will be considered as revised proposals are prepared. For its analysis, the Ministry will group the submissions according to the five parts, as each covers a distinct work stream.

Part 1: Revising targets for the New Zealand Waste Strategy

Submissions will help us develop revised targets which will be submitted to Government for approval in mid-2009. Once approved, the 2002 New Zealand Waste Strategy will be reprinted incorporating the new targets.

Part 2: Identifying products that are priorities for product stewardship

Feedback will help us develop the Ministry’s work programme for promoting product stewardship in New Zealand. If mandatory schemes are proposed in future, each will be open for public comment on both the proposal and any guidelines that may apply.

Part 3: Identifying funding criteria for the Waste Minimisation Fund

Submissions will help us finalise proposals for funding criteria for the Waste Minimisation Fund. Following advice from the Waste Advisory Board, the Minister for the Environment will publish the final criteria in the New Zealand Gazette – www.gazette.govt.nz

Part 4: Monitoring waste in New Zealand

Submissions will help us prepare final proposals for regulations to help monitor the composition of waste disposed of at landfills. Before making regulations, the Minister must seek the advice of the Waste Advisory Board and assess the costs and benefits of the proposal. This cost and benefit assessment will be incorporated in a regulatory impact statement which will be included in the final proposals.

Part 5: Improving the operation of the waste levy

Your submissions will help us decide whether to have regulation and to prepare any final proposals for regulations to ensure landfill cover material is not subject to levy charges. The Minister must also seek the advice of the Waste Advisory Board and assess the costs and benefits of the proposal. This assessment will be incorporated in a regulatory impact statement which will be included in the final proposals.

 

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