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 III. 2 Background

Section 3.01 2.1 Rationale for targets

Targets are typically employed to provide direction and a means for checking the progress of waste minimisation and management initiatives. Having clear and well-defined goals helps to promote and channel waste minimisation efforts into a defined and cohesive direction. This also promotes the visibility and status of waste prevention, which enhances the viability of waste prevention initiatives (Stutz, 1999).

This comment, from a contribution to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) work on strategic waste prevention, is relevant to the role of targets in the New Zealand Waste Strategy. Targets are also useful for communicating the expectations and priorities for waste minimisation to the relevant stakeholders and can therefore facilitate cohesive and well-communicated policy.

Section 3.02 2.2 The process followed for developing the targets in the New Zealand Waste Strategy

Targets are commonly adopted in the waste strategies of other jurisdictions. The Ministry anticipated that targets would be included in the New Zealand Waste Strategy and responsibility for providing advice on targets was included in the Terms of Reference of the Waste Minimisation and Management Working Group, a multi-sector group established to advise the Ministry and Local Government New Zealand on the development of a national waste strategy.

The working group compiled an initial list of targets, debated these and submitted its recommendations to the Ministry for the Environment and Local Government New Zealand. This advice recognised that the limited information available at the time meant that some of the targets were somewhat speculative. The working group also suggested that certain policies should be a prerequisite for setting targets. These policies, promoted through the strategy, included:

• regional co-ordination for waste minimisation and management
• mandatory local authority waste minimisation and management plans
• full-cost pricing at all landfills and cleanfills
• a national environmental standard for landfills (including cleanfills)
• a nationwide education programme.

The targets were further debated and developed within the Ministry. Members of the working group were given a further opportunity for comment, and at the request of Local Government New Zealand an 'expert' group of local authority waste management professional officers were asked to review the draft targets.

Section 3.03 2.3 The nature of the targets included in the strategy

The targets in the strategy cover a number of priority waste areas, namely:

• waste minimisation
• organic wastes
• special wastes
• construction and demolition wastes
• hazardous wastes
• contaminated sites
• organochlorines
• trade wastes
• waste disposal.

Some targets are directed at quantifiable reductions in particular waste streams. Other targets are directed at local authorities or other parties achieving some form of policy objective that will contribute to the minimisation or better management of wastes. A date is set for the achievement of each target. A full list of the targets is provided in Annex I, and each target is discussed in section 4 of this report.

Section 3.04 2.4 Expectations about regional and local adoption of targets

The targets included in the strategy are national targets, but their achievement is significantly dependent on the actions of local authorities and other parties. The Ministry assumed that action would be taken by local authorities to set their own targets in ways that contribute to the national targets. The National Council of Local Government New Zealand advised local authorities to adopt the strategy as the basis for their programmes, policies and plans.

Section 3.05 2.5 Review of the targets

The strategy indicated that the targets would be reviewed by the end of 2003. The Ministry for the Environment has undertaken this review, drawing on the experience of local government and other parties in setting targets and implementing policies in line with the strategy.

It is still early days in the implementation of the New Zealand Waste Strategy and progress towards many targets is difficult to assess. The review does, however, identify some important issues that will help in the interpretation and implementation of the targets and allow future progress to be better measured. These issues are discussed in section 5.