Govt reveals recycling action plan

You don’t have to be an environmentalist to know that New Zealand’s current recycling system is pretty poor. Every year New Zealand generates more than 17 million tons of waste, and over 76 per cent of that is sent to landfill. Compared to many other countries, this statistic is rubbish (pun intended).  

On 13 March, the Government revealed an action plan to reduce this percentage and improve our country’s rubbish and recycling systems, emissions and pressure on the environment. For students, who arguably produce the highest amount of glass bottle and aluminium can waste per household, this action plan is of a particular significance.  

The plan is comprised of three parts. The first is to adjust our household kerbside recycling system to include food scrap collections. 

“Food scraps make up more than a third of a typical household’s rubbish each week. When sent to landfill, they create greenhouse gas emissions,” explained David Parker.  

When food breaks down, it produces a harmful gas called methane.  

“Providing access to household kerbside food scraps collections is a simple step to reduce emissions and return nutrients to the soil,” he added.  

The second step is to create a container return scheme where people will be able to return empty drink containers in exchange for money. Germany, Austria and Wales are already carrying out this scheme and have the highest recycling rates in the world.  

“More than two billion drinks are sold in New Zealand every year, and less than half of these containers are recycled, meaning that over a billion containers end up as litter, are stockpiled or sent to landfill each year,” said David Parker.  

“With a container return scheme, we can increase our recycling rate for beverage containers from between 85 per cent and 90 per cent.”  

This scheme is ideal for students, most of which are skimp on money and heavy consumers of alcohol. Being able to do good for the environment, clear the flat of all those empty bottles and get paid to do so is the perfect incentive to start recycling.  

The third step focuses on diverting business food waste from landfill and instead using it to improve soil and feed animals.  

“New Zealand businesses generate 25 per cent of all food waste that goes to landfill. Along with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, separating out food scraps can help businesses identify ways to reduce food waste and save money,” said David Parker.  

“By 2030, we want all businesses and households to separate food scraps from their rubbish. 

“We are taking action that will make a real difference, and want Kiwis to have their say.”  

The Government are calling on the public for feedback, which will help shape the final reform proposals. Anybody is able to make a submission on any of these proposals by going to environment.govt.nz.