Review of Targets in the New Zealand Waste Strategy

Article II. 1 Executive Summary

Article III. 2 Background

Article IV. 3 Local Authority Adoption of the Strategy and its Targets

Article V. 4 Comment on Each Target

Article VI. 5 Key Issues Arising from the Review

Article VII. 6 Proposed Monitoring and Evaluation System

Article VIII. Annex I: National Targets for Priority Wastes

Article IX. Annex II: Monitoring and Evaluation System - Issues for Further Consideration

Article X. References

Article II. 1 Executive Summary

The New Zealand Waste Strategy was published in March 2002 as long-term strategy to help reduce and better manage waste in New Zealand. The preparation of the strategy was a joint exercise involving central and local government.

Amongst other things the strategy includes contains a number of national targets for priority waste management areas. It was expected that councils would take these into account and progressively develop and set their own targets through local waste management plans. A significant number of councils have already established local targets.

When these targets were established, it was acknowledged in the strategy that the information available for setting and measuring targets was poor. The approach adopted was to set targets on the basis of existing knowledge and through a process that included external peer review by a panel of local authority waste management professionals. The Strategy included a commitment to review the national targets in 2003.

The Ministry has undertaken the review proposed with contributions from several local authority waste officers. The review draws the following conclusions.

• The targets in the New Zealand Waste Strategy provide a useful focus for action by central and local government and explicit objectives against which progress can be measured.
• Good progress is being made by councils in setting local and regional targets and in adopting policies aimed at meeting these targets. This process will continue as councils review waste management policies and plans to take account of the New Zealand Waste Strategy.
• While some targets should be readily achieved, others will be difficult and perhaps even impossible to achieve by local authorities. Some organic waste targets present particular problems for councils. The Ministry recognises the inherent difficulty in achieving some of the organic waste targets and has initiated a work programme with a focus on reducing the barriers to the beneficial use of these wastes.
• No change should be made to the targets in the strategy at this time. Although it is likely that some targets will not be achieved nationally, individual councils may find it quite feasible to achieve these targets. If changes were to be made to national targets it is currently unclear what alternative targets would be set. Additional experience and better information will assist future target setting.
• More information about targets should be provided by the Ministry to clarify the interpretation of the targets and to remove ambiguity about responsibility for action on specific targets.
• The limited control that councils exercise over some waste streams and the increasing role of the private sector in the provision of waste services present difficulties for councils in setting targets and measuring progress towards these targets. Good information about changes to waste streams is increasingly dependent on the private sector being willing to provide local authorities with information that may be considered commercially sensitive.
• The achievement of two targets (1.3 and 3.1) is dependent on positive actions by the private sector to develop waste minimisation and extended producer responsibility (EPR) programmes. Although some EPR schemes have been established by the private sector, their success is often limited by the lack of regulatory back-up that ensures a high degree of participation.
• An effective and cost-efficient monitoring and reporting system is essential for measuring progress in implementing the New Zealand Waste Strategy and achieving the targets. Work is being done to ensure a nationally consistent approach to the measurement of solid waste, and regional waste data pilot schemes are being undertaken in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty. The further development of an appropriate monitoring and reporting system will need the co-operation of local government and the Ministry for the Environment. This is discussed in section 6.
• A further review of progress against targets should be undertaken in 2008.

The draft review is open for public comments, which should be sent to Paddy Gresham at the Ministry for the Environment, PO Box 10-362, Wellington by Monday 8 December (paddy.gresham@mfe.govt.nz).