Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Takeaway Throwaways Campaign Launches To Tackle New Zealand’s Waste Crisis

Zero waste campaigners are petitioning the Government to take a more active stance in tackling Aotearoa New Zealand’s waste crisis, with a comprehensive ban on single-use disposable plastic food and drink serviceware, and a phasing in of accessible, reusable alternatives.

Laura Cope, founder of New Zealand’s responsible café guide, Use Your Own (UYO), has joined forces with Hannah Blumhardt and Liam Prince, co-founders of The Rubbish Trip, to launch the campaign, Takeaway Throwaways.

Blumhardt says that the country must move away from a throwaway culture towards a circular, reuse economy, and that takeaway food and drink packaging is a great first test case.

“The scale of the country’s waste problem can be overwhelming, so tackling the easier things first makes sense,” she said.

The Takeaway Throwaways petition is calling on the Government to introduce a mandatory phase-out of disposable food and drink serviceware containing plastic (including degradable, biodegradable and compostable plastic), such as cups and lids, food containers, cutlery, and single-serve condiment sachets and pottles.

The petition excludes plastic straws from the proposed list of banned items because some disabled people require plastic straws to drink.

The petition is also calling for the Government to mandate reusable alternatives to replace disposables, and to require that these alternatives are accessible, and co-designed with a wide range of stakeholders.

“The Government has a role not only in taking away throwaways, but in creating the right conditions for reusables to flourish. What’s more, the powers to do all this exist already under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. The Government just needs to push play,” Blumhardt says.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“We’ve seen recent headway in this area with proposals to phase out takeaway cups and containers made of PVC and polystyrene. However, the scale of our waste problem demands more urgent, strategic solutions that target a wider range of products and that encourage and support a reuse culture.”

Cope says the changes called for in the petition would support, boost and normalise the growing culture of reuse amongst individuals, community groups and the hospitality sector.

“We are seeing more and more cafes voluntarily jump on board with reuse systems and reusable alternatives, and customers embracing BYO cups and containers. Increasingly, events and festivals around the country are cutting back on disposable serviceware too.

“However, takeaway throwaways remain pervasive. People are often confused about what to do with single-use items once they’re finished with them, which can lead to waste stream contamination. The emergence of various ‘compostables’ has increased confusion and further enabled a throwaway culture. Replacing all these products with reusables seems simply logical,” she said.

The Takeaway Throwaways campaign encourages those who support the cause to sign the petition, but also to consider how they can influence a shift towards reusables in their own lives, workplaces, businesses and communities.

“We can make this shift to a reuse culture and a zero waste society. The potential for innovation is really exciting. We could be leading the world and offering a real solution to the plastic pollution problem at grassroots, business and Government level,” said Cope.

The Takeaway Throwaways petition, FAQs and resources about reuse systems and reusable alternatives can be accessed at www.takeawaythrowaways.nz

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.