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March 2014This inventory of anthropogenic (human made) mercury sources and use in New Zealand was completed in 2012 as part of the national interest assessment for the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Read more -
August 2009The report is part of a series of three reports that strengthen the evidence base for a potential industry-led voluntary product stewardship scheme. It assesses the environmental impact of mercury-containing lamps compared to the impact of mercury from other sources. Read more -
March 2000This report provides a national inventory of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans emission to air, land and water from known sources for 1998. Read more -
February 2011This report provides a national inventory of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans emission to air, land and water from known sources for 2008. Read more -
April 2019This report provides a national inventory of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran emissions to air, land and water from known sources for 2016. Read more -
November 2018This report provides a national inventory of olychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran emissions to air, land and water from known sources for 2012, together with estimates of the amount of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran present within reservoir sources. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran Read more -
July 2004The 2004 New Zealand Packaging Accord was a partnership between government and industry to make more sustainable use of packaging. Read more -
October 2003This pamphlet outlines New Zealand's approach to genetic modification. Read more -
August 2001This 2001 report estimates the value for New Zealand's export trade of our clean green image. The report focuses on three export areas: dairy, inbound tourism and organic produce. Read more -
February 2006Between 2003 and 2006 the Ministry and 13 regional councils worked together to collect agricultural chemicals, mainly from rural properties. This report provides an estimate of the amount of intractable agrichemicals remaining on New Zealand farms following the completion of the programme. Read more -
June 2004This booklet answers some of the basic questions you might have about what genetic modification is, how applications to use it can be made, and how they are controlled and managed in New Zealand. It will also point you to sources of further information. Read more -
October 2014This report was prepared for the Ministry to accompany the database of non-levied waste facilities in New Zealand. It summarises the statistical findings, methodology and data limitations. Read more -
December 2009In this report, Boffa Miskell Ltd analyses international approaches to resource efficiency, to inform the development of an approach that is specific and applicable to New Zealand and allows comparisons with other countries. Read more -
June 2010This report is the third in a series of reports contracted by the Ministry from Boffa Miskell Ltd on resource efficiency in New Zealand. Read more -
August 2015In 2014, the Ministry for the Environment commissioned SLR to develop a product stewardship framework for e-waste in New Zealand. SLR undertook stakeholder engagement and consultation, collection and analysis of e-waste data specific to New Zealand, and analysis of product stewardship options for e-waste. This report presents the findings of this research. Read more -
November 2014This report examines waste produced in households in New Zealand (2009). Read more -
October 2010This document provides a summary of the main issues raised in submissions on the Ministry’s discussion document, Waste Minimisation in New Zealand: A Discussion Document. Read more -
February 2006The Value Case for Sustainable Building in New Zealand provides information that can be used to demonstrate the business case for sustainable buildings to key decision-makers. It contains case studies, overseas trends, and potential drivers for sustainable building in the future. Read more -
March 2004This guide will help decision-makers implement a consistent full cost accounting approach to landfills, incorporating landfill planning, development, operation, closure and aftercare. Read more -
February 2010This report outlines a process for measuring and reporting resource efficiency. Read more -
October 2010The New Zealand Waste Strategy sets out the Government's long-term priorities for waste management and minimisation in New Zealand. This Strategy replaces the 2002 New Zealand Waste Strategy. Read more -
January 2008This report investigates ways to promote the recycling and better management of mercury-containing lamps. Read more -
November 2010The Ministry engaged independent consultants to develop and test a way of quantifying the benefits of resource efficiency to the New Zealand economy. Read more -
July 2011This report presents information about consented cleanfills and landfills in New Zealand that are not subject to the Waste Disposal Levy. Read more -
September 2002This is a summary of the submissions received on the public discussion document, Towards a Pesticides Risk reduction Policy for New Zealand, released in April 2002. Read more -
August 1997The Users’ Guide includes information on assessment, acceptance criteria and site management. It is supported by modules of technical information. Read more -
May 2010Preparing for Future Flooding is a summary of the Ministry’s technical report 'Tools for estimating the effects of climate change on flood flow'. It provides good practice information and guidance to help local authorities incorporate climate change impacts into flood risk management. Read more -
April 2002This discussion document released in 2002 discusses how the risks associated with the use of pesticides are managed and suggests some possible fresh approaches. Submissions closed 21 June 2002. Read more -
May 2001This guide aims to increase awareness of the risks associated with closed landfills and to outline the best practical methods to manage closed landfill sites effectively, so that adverse environmental effects are minimised. Read more -
December 1998Guidance for the owners and managers of petroleum industry sites on how to ensure water discharges will not cause significant adverse effects on the environment. Read more -
December 2006New Zealand's National Implementation Plan under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants sets out how New Zealand is meeting its obligations under this convention. Read more -
March 2009The discussion document sought feedback on policy proposed to implement the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. Submissions closed on 15 May 2009. Read more -
May 2001This report, published in 2001, provides data on the concentrations of dioxins, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in serum collected from New Zealanders aged 15 years and older. Read more -
November 2006This 2006 discussion paper draws together the measures that make up New Zealand’s contaminated land policy framework, and evaluates them to identify any gaps and possible solutions/improvements to the existing framework. Read more -
June 1999Information on the assessment and management of sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Read more -
October 2013The Ministry for the Environment commissioned ENVIRON Australia Pty Ltd, to investigate the practicalities of identifying, sorting and segregating plastics in the e-waste recycling industry, according to those components that contain banned brominated flame retardant (BFR) chemicals. Read more -
September 2007This paper sets out a prioritised Ministry work programme to help manage contaminated land. Read more -
April 2004This report estimates dioxin emissions from New Zealand foundry operations that melt and process scrap metals and alloys. Volume two comprises scientific test data. Read more -
April 2004This report estimates dioxin emissions from New Zealand foundry operations that melt and process scrap metals and alloys. Volume one is the emissions estimate report. Read more -
September 2007This report contains a summary of the submissions received on the discussion paper Working Towards a Comprehensive Policy Framework for Managing Contaminated Land in New Zealand – Discussion paper. Read more -
April 2011This guideline has been developed through a partnership between the Ministry for the Environment, regional councils and unitary authorities to ensure consistency in the reporting on contaminated sites. Read more -
September 2016This draft revised guideline has been released to assist understanding of the proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health. The final revised guideline will be gazetted in early 2017. Read more -
June 2009The report is part of a series of three reports that strengthen the evidence base for a potential industry-led voluntary product stewardship scheme. Read more -
February 2001This 2001 report is an independent appraisal of the health risks posed to New Zealanders by dioxin and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls. The report contains recommendations on managing these chemicals in New Zealand, and the need to reduce population exposures. Read more -
September 2010This study reports on the use, recycling and disposal to landfill in New Zealand of articles containing brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) flame retardants. Read more -
November 2003The Ministry and local government developed these guidelines to ensure the consistent selection and application of the environmental guideline values most commonly used in contaminated site assessments in New Zealand. Read more -
November 1998This 1998 report provides data on the levels of dioxins and PCBs in New Zealand retail foods, including dairy products, meat and fish, as well as other staple foods such as potatoes and cereals. Read more -
February 2012This independent report surveys literature on the regulation of chemical and biological risks in Australia, Canada, China, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Read more -
June 2012This report identifies the key factors that influence businesses' decisions to innovate using new organisms in New Zealand. The aim of the project was to determine whether regulation for managing risks is an important determinant in such decisions. Read more -
July 2001This leaflet provides a general introduction to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Read more