MEDIA RELEASE

Councils’ role in waste minimisation hindered

For immediate release on 29 August 2008

“Councils’ ability to successfully carry out their role in waste minimisation has been hindered following last minute changes to the Waste Minimisation Bill,” said Local Government New Zealand  spokesperson Adrienne Staples.

“With recyclables no longer classified as waste, councils will only be able to measure waste that ends up in landfill and won’t have the authority to

gather accurate information about materials sent directly for recycling or exported overseas.

“Without the ability to license recycling operations and gain accurate information on total waste flows, councils won’t be able to justify dedicating resources to waste minimisation programmes in these areas. 

“This doesn’t support the intention of the bill, which is to reduce total waste disposal and environmental harm.   Waste that ends up in landfill is a small percentage of the overall waste stream and any future waste minimisation initiatives are likely to be on a smaller scale and less targeted.

“We’ve lobbied hard for a commitment from the Government to help councils to collect information on all waste and recycling. 

“It’s disappointing that these last minute changes have altered the original intention of the bill.  This limits the ability of councils to reduce total waste disposal to benefit the environment and our communities,” said Ms Staples.

ENDS

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