Government announces new era for New Zealand’s waste system
The Government today announced far-reaching changes to the way we make, use, recycle and dispose of waste, ushering in a new era for New Zealand’s waste system.
The initiatives are:
- a new waste strategy to set New Zealand's direction on waste for the next three decades
- new and more comprehensive waste legislation
- improved household recycling and food scrap collections, making it easier for people to recycle and divert food scraps from landfills.
Our new waste strategy commits to New Zealand becoming a low-emissions, low-waste circular economy by 2050. A circular economy means we keep resources in use for as long as possible and there is a shift away from the wasteful ‘take–make–dispose’ system that we are all too used to.
The strategy has three phases, each with goals that build on those from the previous phase and create momentum over time. Supporting plans will guide the immediate priorities for the next five years, building on our existing waste reduction work programme.
We are developing new waste legislation to replace the current Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and the Litter Act 1979. The new legislation will support delivery of many significant initiatives including the waste strategy and waste elements of the Emissions Reduction Plan.
Our current waste system causes:
- environmental harm
- greenhouse gas emissions
- economic losses.
It is not sustainable without increasing harm to the environment. The current legislation, the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 (WMA) and the Litter Act 1979, is dated and has limited tools to address these environmental issues.
New legislation will allow us to fix the gaps in our old legislation, give effect to our new waste strategy and enable Aotearoa to catch up with the rest of the world.
We’re making it easier for people to recycle and divert food scraps from landfills.
To support a low-emissions, low-waste circular economy, we are introducing three main changes:
- From February 2024, councils across Aotearoa will accept the same materials in their household collections.
- By 2027, recycling collections will be available to households in all urban areas.
- By 2030, food scraps collections will be available to households in all urban areas.
We are also introducing minimum standards for councils to divert waste from landfill, and requiring waste companies to collect and report more of their waste data. Revenue from the expanded waste levy will support the roll out of these changes.
As well as providing households with food scrap collections, we are looking to get businesses ready to separate food scraps from general waste by 2030.
Find out more about improving household recycling and food scraps collections
Find out more about preparing businesses to separate food scraps
Read the Minister's media release: Standard kerbside recycling part of new era for waste system [Beehive website]