Glossary

Term	Definition
Diverted material	The Waste Minimisation Act 2008 (the Act) defines diverted material as any thing that is no longer required for its original purpose and, but for commercial or other waste minimisation activities, would be disposed of or discarded.
Recovery	The Act defines recovery as the extraction of materials or energy from waste or diverted material for further use or processing. This includes making waste or diverted material into compost.
Recycling	The Act defines recycling as reprocessing of waste or diverted material to produce new materials.
Reduction	The Act defines reduction as lessening waste generation, including by using products more efficiently or by redesigning products. In relation to a product, it means lessening waste generation in relation to the product.
Reuse	The Act defines reuse as the further use of waste or diverted material in its existing form for the original purpose of the materials or products that constitute the waste or diverted material, or for a similar purpose.
Waste	The Act defines waste as any thing disposed of or discarded, and: includes a type of waste that is defined by its composition or source (for example, organic waste, electronic waste, or construction and demolition waste), and to avoid doubt, includes any component or element of diverted material, if the component or element is disposed of or discarded.
Waste minimisation	The Act defines waste minimisation as the reduction of waste; and the reuse, recycling and recovery of waste and diverted material.
Waste Minimisation Fund	The Waste Minimisation Fund has been set up to boost New Zealand’s performance in waste minimisation. The Fund will provide some of the funding to ensure: investment in infrastructure and systems for waste minimisation occurs educational and promotional capacity is developed.