The campaign builds on an ambitious waste policy and regulatory programme, such as the design of a New Zealand beverage container return scheme, proposed regulated product stewardship for a number of problem waste streams, and the landfill levy expansion. The Ministry also has work underway on a plan to phase out low value and hard to recycle plastic packaging.
Today the Ministry has launched a new campaign #FeelsGoodtoRefill, pai ana ki te whakakī ano, encouraging people to use refillable water bottles and reduce waste. Refilling reduces plastic waste and helps protect the environment from plastic pollution.
It follows the release of a report yesterday auditing kerbside rubbish and recycling that estimated at least 1.76 billion plastic containers end up in household kerbside rubbish and recycling each year. The most common of these is the single-use plastic drink bottle.
The Ministry worked with a range of stakeholders on the campaign, including WasteMINZ, Refill NZ, Basketball NZ, Wai Auckland, Pare Kore, Sustainable Coastlines, and Z Energy which has agreed that customers are welcome to refill drink bottles in their stores.
Refill NZ has worked to increase refill stations by recruiting local councils and businesses, and then set about putting over 1,300 of them on a map, making it easier for people to refill drink bottles when they are out and about.
The #FeelsGoodtoRefill, pai ana ki te whakakī ano, campaign runs until the end of February and includes a mix of online and in-store advertisements.