5 Recommendations
There has been good progress by central government, local government and the waste sector in achieving the wider principles and goals of the New Zealand Waste Strategy, but more can be done to make progress against some Strategy targets.
In order to build on earlier achievements in waste management, waste minimisation and resource efficiency, and given the variable performance against some targets, this report recommends the following actions:
1. Retain the New Zealand Waste Strategy as an appropriate framework to improve waste management and drive waste minimisation consistent with the direction of the Government’s wider sustainable development objectives for New Zealand.
2. Focus future effort to manage and minimise waste in the following areas.
2.1 Maintain and increase momentum in waste management and minimisation activity by local government through the development of and support for programmes to:
2.1.1 enhance the adoption of best practice
2.1.2 strengthen regional cooperation, where appropriate
2.1.3 draw on international best practice
2.1.4 expand existing services and increase participation in them
2.1.5 increase funding, and additional funding mechanisms, for waste minimisation initiatives.
2.2 Build on existing guidelines and standards, with an initial focus on the current review of the Building Code to consider recycling facilities for multi-unit apartments, and the development of standard means of evaluating waste minimisation and management programmes for trade wastes.
2.3 Increase public awareness to drive greater community and householder action on waste minimisation.
2.4 Improve the management of priority waste streams as set out in the New Zealand Waste Strategy; specifically:
Organics
2.4.1 Assist in the development and improvement of markets for reprocessed organic wastes, especially biosolids.
2.4.2 Improve organic waste diversion management, best-practice implementation and promotion of emerging technologies.
2.4.3 Improve the monitoring of organic waste streams.
Construction and demolition
2.4.4 Assist in the development and improvement of markets for construction and demolition waste.
2.4.5 Identify opportunities for, and engage the sector in, increased reprocessing and re-use by, for example, a construction sector accord.
2.4.6 Improve monitoring and reporting of data from cleanfills.
2.4.7 Improve monitoring and reporting of data from landfills.
Hazardous waste and contaminated sites
2.4.8 Further develop existing frameworks and tools.
3. Review and revise some targets in the Strategy in order to:
3.1 update or remove those targets that have proven to be unclear, unable to be adequately measured, unworkable from a legal perspective, or out of date in their allocation of responsibility for action, and for any revised targets ensure consistency of language and fit with baseline data, statutory frameworks and case law
3.2 reflect changes in the wider waste management and minimisation landscape
3.3 better reflect progress against the targets and, where necessary, set new, updated targets
3.4 better reflect the current state of knowledge of waste management, minimisation and resource recovery in New Zealand
3.5 align targets with current central and local government aims relating to environmental sustainability.
4. Any such review should await forthcoming decisions by the Government on the future strategic direction of waste policy in New Zealand. This is to minimise transaction costs, avoid potential duplication, minimise the risk of new targets becoming out of date soon after they are finalised, and enhance stakeholder buy-in and participation to the revision process.
5. Improve and standardise waste data collection, monitoring and reporting (eg, of tonnage and composition of waste to landfill, cleanfill and waste diverted for beneficial re-use) in order to better assess progress against New Zealand Waste Strategy targets. This could be achieved through the development of waste monitoring and reporting guidelines and the introduction of mandatory waste data collection, monitoring and reporting requirements.
