Policy framework
National Action Plan
Name:
National Plastics Action Plan
National Waste Strategy
Brief description:
The National Plastics Action Plan outlines the actions New Zealand will take on plastics from 2021 to 2024. It includes a commitment to support discussions towards a global agreement to tackle marine plastic pollution under UN auspices. See: National Plastics Action Plan for Aotearoa New Zealand | Ministry for the Environment.
The National Waste Strategy, which is currently being refreshed, will set the direction and guide investment as we address waste and resource recovery challenges over the coming decades. See: National waste strategy under development | Ministry for the Environment
Legal framework
Name:
Waste Minimisation Act 2008 (WMA) and Litter Act 1979
Brief description:
The WMA encourages a reduction in the amount of waste we generate and dispose of in New Zealand. The aim is to reduce the environmental harm of waste and provide economic, social and cultural benefits for New Zealand. We are currently reviewing both the WMA and the Litter Act to strengthen and support our wide-ranging government programme for waste. This will include a greater circular economy focus and consider new provisions not already in these Acts. We will also revise how our waste levy funds can be used by central and local government. See: Waste legislation review | Ministry for the Environment.
Indicators
We do not have central-government MPL-specific indicators.
However, we have data that suggests less plastic is ending up in our marine environment – for example, more than an estimated 2 billion plastic shopping bags have been removed from circulation through our ban on plastic shopping bags in 2019. Additionally, at least another 2 billion single-use plastic items (straws, cotton buds, cutlery etc) will be removed from circulation through the additional plastic phase-outs that commence in late 2022.
Measures
Measures |
Achievements |
Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation |
|
Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws) | |
Names of actions: Targeted products: Brief description: See: Phasing out hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics | Ministry for the Environment In addition: |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Numerical data: |
Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design | |
Names of actions: Brief description: See: Waste Minimisation Fund | Ministry for the Environment |
We do not see any particular trend Numerical data: |
Regulation on microplastics | |
Names of actions: Brief description: The aim of the regulations is to prevent plastic microbeads, which are non-biodegradable, entering our marine environment. They can harm both marine life and life higher on the food chain including humans. Additionally, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) funds ‘Aotearoa Impacts and Mitigation of Microplastics’ – a program to develop a nationwide overview of contemporary microplastic pollution in New Zealand and assess the risk microplastics present to our environment, economy and well-being. Funded by the MBIE Endeavour Fund. See: Waste Minimisation (Microbeads) Regulations 2017 (LI 2017/291) Contents – New Zealand Legislation |
Comments: Numerical data: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Environmentally sound waste management |
|
Enforcement of proper waste management system | |
Names of actions: Brief description: CME policies and procedures have been updated to align with best practice and a strategy has developed to deal with compliance with the regulations. The Ministry is producing an annual performance monitoring report on its activities. Annual audit programmes will include a programme for managing the response to plastic bans and product stewardship schemes. See: Compliance, monitoring and enforcement of the Waste Minimisation Act | Ministry for the Environment |
Comments: Numerical data:
|
Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean | |
Names of actions: Brief description:
|
Comments: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Cleanup of marine plastic litter |
|
Collection of scattered waste on beach | |
Names of actions: Brief description: The Department of Conservation provides guidance on running local beach clean ups (Beach clean-ups: Restoration advice (doc.govt.nz)). Local initiatives are also widespread, for example:
|
Comments: Numerical data: |
Removal of plastic litter from the ocean | |
Names of actions: New Zealand supports the Global Ghost Gear Initiative. |
Comments: Numerical data: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Promotion of innovative solutions |
|
Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on’) | |
Names of actions: Brief description: We are also committed to undertaking research to ascertain the impacts of compostable packaging on soils and release a Ministry position statement on the use of compostable packaging. |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Numerical data: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Education and awareness raising |
|
Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues | |
|
We do not see any particular trend |
Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL | |
National level:
International / Regional level: |
National level: Local level: International / Regional level: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter |
|
Engagement in international/regional level actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics | |
Names of actions: New Zealand has work underway to collaborate with Australia on data collection on waste and material flows. Brief description: Collaboration with Australia on data will be in the following areas:
|
We do not see any particular trend |
Challenges
- Recycling system improvement
- Proper waste management system (including lack of local capacity)
- Data collection related to waste in general
- Data collection related to marine plastic litter
- Lack of awareness among citizens, business, local governments
- Lack of financial incentives for waste treatment in general
- Lack of financial incentives for technology development
- Project delays due to COVID-19
Best practices
National level
Strategy:
We are taking a lead role in developing a new waste strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand. The strategy will set the direction and guide investment as we address waste and resource recovery challenges, including marine plastic litter, over the coming decades. We are working on the strategy with:
- Māori
- the waste sector
- Industry
- waste producers
- local government
- other interested parties.
The strategy will be supported by work to strengthen and update waste-related legislation, including the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and Litter Act 1979.
Action:
Ghost Fishing NZ are a national NGO collective who run coastal clean ups and education days on the effects of marine plastics.
Local level
Strategy:
The Local Government Waste Manifesto states that reducing waste and making full use of the value of materials will lead to the following positive outcomes for New Zealand:
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- More efficient industries and services
- Improved soil quality and the need to use less fertilisers
- A reduced reliance on importing materials
- An increase in economic activity and jobs
- Reduced environmental and marine impacts
The updated Local Government Waste Manifesto can be viewed here.
Action:
Certain territorial authorities install stormwater traps to reduce macro plastics entering waterways and further breaking down in the marine environment. In addition, community groups have initiatives in place along coastal regions to remove beach plastics. Many mana whenua also have Iwi Environmental Management Plans in place in collaboration with local councils. Some of these plans include strategies to reduce pollution – including plastics.
Private sector
Action:
The Waste Minimisation Fund has funded an initiative by Plastics New Zealand to run a programme of work aimed at helping Aotearoa New Zealand change its relationship with plastic. The three-year programme focuses on: circular plastics training, establishing a design advisory to connect businesses with the right advice for sustainable product and packaging design, and setting up working groups on specific plastic streams.
International cooperation
Action:
Although New Zealand is focused on its domestic work on plastics currently, we are supporting discussions towards a global agreement to tackle marine plastic pollution under UN auspices.
Contact details
Daisy Croft
Daisy.Croft@mfe.govt.nz