First phase-out of problematic plastics begins
On 1 October some problematic plastics were banned. This is the first in a three-step process to phasing out single use plastics in Aotearoa.
- Waste Minimisation (Plastic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 (SL 2022/69) [New Zealand Legislation website].
- Plastic phase-outs: guidance for sellers and manufacturers of products banned from 1 October 2022
From 1 October 2022 it became illegal to provide, sell or manufacture the following plastic products in Aotearoa New Zealand:
- Single use plastic drink stirrers
- Single use plastic cotton buds
- Degradable plastics eg oxo and photo degradable
- Certain PVC food trays and containers
- Polystyrene takeaway food and beverage packaging
- Expanded polystyrene food and beverage packaging.
Each year, on average every New Zealander sends nearly 60kg of plastic waste to landfills.
Plastic is one of our greatest environmental challenges.
Unless we act, we are harming our wildlife, environment and climate. Many single use plastic products are used only once, not properly disposed of and end up littering our moana and whenua.
Hard-to-recycle packaging and products can cause contamination and interfere with our recycling systems, harm our environment and contribute to climate change. Given the value that communities and tangata whenua place on our natural environment, action on plastics contributes to restoring the mana and mauri of te taiao.
Moving away from hard-to-recycle and single use plastics will help:
- reduce our plastic waste
- improve our recycling systems
- protect our environment.
We are taking a balanced approach between your feedback for fast action and providing businesses with adequate time to prepare. Our plan is therefore to phase out easier to replace plastics first before moving on to the more challenging items to replace.
Since 2020 we have publicly consulted on and received close to 8,000 submissions on these phase-out proposals. This was part of a broader response to the Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand report released by the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor in 2019.
If you’re a consumer, then quite simply you will start to see less single use plastic in your life! At your favourite takeaway you will notice food in different packaging. When you go to the supermarket, certain products like plastic cotton buds will be replaced by bamboo or other non-plastic alternatives.
For many businesses, 1st October marks a new beginning in the way we operate. This means you may have to start using alternatives for packaging.
Here at the Ministry, we will be taking an educational approach with businesses to help with compliance. However, we will take enforcement action where necessary which may include handing out fines of up to $100,000 to those who deliberately don’t follow the new rules.
We have put together a helpful guide for businesses that are affected by this change.
If you have any questions contact the plastic phase-out team.
This is the first step in phasing out problematic plastics. The next tranche of products to be phased out will take place in mid-2023. We will continue to engage and communicate with the public and businesses on the further changes being made.
On top of these changes, we are also investing significantly in our waste management systems to make them more efficient and environmentally friendly. Last year we launched the $50 million Plastics Innovation Fund to unlock transformative solutions that will minimise plastic waste in New Zealand.
We are also investing significantly in our waste management systems to make them more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Last year we launched the $50 million Plastics Innovation Fund to unlock transformative solutions that will minimise plastic waste in New Zealand.