3R
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • Our Team
    • Sustainability
    • Sustainable Futures Accelerator
  • Services
    • Overview
    • Product Stewardship
    • Sustainability Projects
    • Waste Assessment
    • Hazardous Waste Management
      • ChemCollect
      • MyHazWaste
    •  Compliance and Certification
    • ChemCollect
  • Work
  • Case Studies
  • News
  • Contact Us
3R Logo Yellow
Services
  • Overview
  • Product Stewardship
  • Sustainability Projects
  • Waste Assessment
  • Hazardous Waste Management
    • ChemCollect
    • MyHazWaste
  •  Compliance and Certification
  • ChemCollect
3R Logo Yellow
Work
  • Overview
3R CE Adele Rose and GM innovation Trevor Tutt
3R Logo Yellow
About Us
  • Overview
  • Our Team
  • Sustainability
  • Sustainable Futures Accelerator

Waste levy increase a big step, but just the first

By Caddie Digital on July 17th, 2020 in Policy, regulation and legislation, Waste reduction
Waste reduction from increase in waste levy

Just like water flows to the lowest point so waste flows to the lowest cost. The announcement by Government that it will increase and expand the waste levy is therefore an important step in tackling waste in New Zealand.

Aotearoa has a “clean, green” reputation, but the reality is Kiwis have one of the highest rates of waste production per capita in the world.  Having a levy of just $10 a tonne – one of the lowest in the OECD – which is applied to only a limited number of landfills is doing little to help, both in terms of discouraging waste to landfill and funding waste minimisation initiatives.

Government’s plan to progressively increase the levy over four years to $60 a tonne, starting on 1 July 2021, sends a clear signal that landfill should no longer be our first option.

However, it’s important to remember you can’t drive behaviour change without providing the infrastructure that gives us the ability to make a better choice. 

That’s where the announced $124 million in Government investment in recycling infrastructure comes in. It’s a very welcome move signalling Government is serious about working with industry to reduce waste and increase onshore recycling infrastructure that will create jobs for New Zealanders.

Applying the levy to other landfill types from July 2022 will provide a major revenue boost to the Waste Minimisation Fund, taking it from the current $10-$12 million to around $276 million. Extending the levy to construction and demolition landfills is a big step as this sector accounts for around half of all the waste the country sends to landfill. To put things in perspective the current levy only applies to municipal waste (class 1 landfills) which accounts for around one-third of waste going to landfill.

Something detractors of the increase need to keep in mind is the additional funding will be used to get waste reduction and recovery projects off the ground. Increasing New Zealand’s ability to innovate, reuse and recycle our waste will lead to a reduction in the need to send it to the landfill in the first place. It’s a cycle aimed at ending waste altogether.

However, this is just the start. We would like to see Government clearly indicate its intention after the four-year phase-in is complete as this will provide business more diversion options. It will also encourage waste producers to seek out alternatives to landfilling if they know that waste disposal costs are likely to increase further.

The by-products of recycling will also need to be given special consideration as applying the same levy to them may discourage onshore recycling. However, care will need to be taken to avoid a backdoor which allows waste disposal via recycling operations.

Lastly, but certainly not least, a consistent nationalised approach to data collection and analysis is essential. Improving waste data would positively impact our ability to meaningfully address the issue of waste as a nation, develop effective strategy, inform the design of product stewardship schemes and enable the shift to circular economy.

Previous 3R climate change what a difference a year makes

Facing the facts about climate change

Next 3R Paint product stewardship paint bucket and brush

Resene PaintWise™ welcomes Minister’s priority product announcement

Browse articles:

Archives

Categories

3R

3R Group Limited

info@3r.co.nz
0508 374 768
+64 6 872 7235
ChemCollect: 0508 243 642
207 Karamu Road North, Hastings 4122
PO Box 1216, Hastings 4156
New Zealand

Quicklinks

  • About Us
  • Services
  • Work
  • Case Studies
  • News

Subscribe for latest updates

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Social Media

© Copyright 2022 3R Group Limited | Privacy Policy

Site by Agrarian + Caddie

ISO 14001:2015

Environmental management systems and safe work practices.

ISO 14001:2015 is an internationally recognised standard that certifies our commitment to environmental management systems and safe work practices.

Consistent with our environmental policy, the intended outcomes of our environmental management system include:

  • The enhancement of environmental performance;
  • The fulfilment of compliance obligations;
  • The achievement of environmental objectives.

Our ISO 14001:2015 certification includes 3R Operations, the Paint Product Stewardship Programmes, ChemCollect Service and the SeatSmart Child Car Seat Recycling Programme (owned and operated by 3R).

This certification is audited by TELARC.

ISO 45001:2018

Keeping our people safe, healthy and happy.

ISO 45001:2018 certification has been chosen to demonstrate the importance we place in caring for our people as we bring to life our values of Kaitiakitanga and Manaakitanga.

Keeping our team safe, healthy and happy is a primary focus for our business. We feel that the work our operations staff do makes this particularly important. Their responsibilities can include collecting and processing paint; collecting chemicals; driving trucks around the country; and getting hands-on with work wherever needed.

3R received ISO 45001:2018 certification in 2021. The ISO 45001:2018 certificate is valid for 3 years and includes annual surveillance audits which provide a valuable framework for further growth.

What is a circular economy?

New Zealand is “one of the highest generators of waste per person in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)”. The way we currently produce and manage our waste is not sustainable.

The current economy in New Zealand is linear: this equates to a process of take-make-use-dispose. The aim of the government is to move towards a circular economy.

A circular economy can refer to either biological or technical materials.

With biological materials, the cycle could be defined as make-consume-enrich. In this cycle waste returns to the environment and enriches the land.

A technical materials cycle may be more like make-use-return. In a technical materials cycle waste is repurposed and used to make something new.

Whether you need help with biological materials, technical materials, or both; 3R can partner with your business to assess your current waste, then help you reduce it.