Introduction
Click on the logo below for survey results
Helping consumers return unwanted and unused paint and paint packaging throughout New Zealand
Background
In New Zealand and Australia the disposal of old paint and paint containers is largely uncontrolled and the potential impact it could have on the environment is alarming. In NZ, Resene started working on the PaintWise concept in 1999 with a 6 month trial conducted in 2004. Meeting with 3R in mid 2004 provided much needed impetus, resource and know-how to take the concept from trial to permanent rollout. Since then, Resene and 3R have worked collaboratively to cement, extend and improve the Resene PaintWise service.
Agrecovery was formalised in 2004 when 3R Group was commissioned to develop a solution for on farm plastics for a Sustainable Management Funded project. The Agrecovery Foundation which is a not for profit trust, was established in late in 2006 with Agcarm Inc, Federated Farmers of NZ Inc, Horticulture NZ Inc, Environment Waikato and Fonterra Cooperative Co Ltd as trustees. Working with a diverse group of stakeholders, 3R designed the programme which as launched in April 2007 and now has collection points nationwide.
There are 2.5 million fridges in New Zealand homes and businesses and the Fisher and Paykel Appliances programme is a commitment to energy efficiency and preservation of the environment.
The application of Product Stewardship at Fisher & Paykel permeates all operations of the business and features across the complete product life cycle. Fisher & Paykel's view of product stewardship is in harmony with the theory and conceptual origins of product stewardship i.e. life-cycle focus, collaboration and cooperation with other stakeholders, balancing environmental responsibility and protection with sensible economic management.
Every year about 60 million litres of lubricating oil is sold in New Zealand. Used oil is the single largest non-watery liquid waste stream in New Zealand. Once used, about 21 million litres of oil is collected and disposed of safely. Used oil contains heavy metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, some of which are known to cause cancer. That makes used oil dangerous to human health and the environment so we must manage and dispose of it properly.
Manufacturing companies are increasing differentiating themselves by using Life Cycle Management as a point of competitive advantage in international markets. By learning how to manage the life cycle of products more effectively, companies can realise market opportunities and simultaneously improve environmental performance.
To read more about Life Cycle Management please click here
The Life Cycle Management project is a five year programe that aims to build LCM capability among New Zealand manufacturing companies
Read more about the project, who is involved and what its aims are. lcm_leaflet_2 1.12 Mb
New Zealanders are almost evenly split over paying 10c an item extra at shops to recycle packaging.
New waste minimisation law allows for compulsory recycling schemes. Implementing one for containers is estimated to cost at least 10 cents per item, according to packaging industry research.
A new nationwide ShapeNZ survey of nearly 2,397 people shows the country is split 36% for to 34% against any new per-item tax. Some 23% are neutral and 8% are not sure.
Businesses need to focus on how to make the most of new opportunities driven by the growing shortage of local and world natural resources. The newly elected chair of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, Bob Field, also chair of Toyota NZ Limited, says the planet’s resources are being stretched as never before by a growing population and higher standards of living.
The challenge for business Organisations that understand that consumers are regarding them through a new green lens and respond to that shift will gain competitive advantage.
Read this interesting article from June 09 Managment magazine.
OTTAWA — The federal government is contemplating a $35-million recycling program to keep its obsolete and unwanted computers and other gear out of the country's landfills, say newly released documents.
A draft analysis by the Public Works Department says a federal scheme is needed because some provinces lack programs to allow Ottawa to safely dispose of its used computers, fax machines and cellular phones.
"A federal program is still necessary over the next five years to ensure the end of life management of federal government IT equipment as . . . there is no guarantee as to when all provinces and the territories will have take-back programs in place," says the analysis, drafted last September.
The Ministry for the Environment as released its new Guide to Product Stewardship for Non-priority Products in the Waste Minimisation Act 2008
The purpose of this document is to provide:
The intended audiences for this document are:
Guide to Product Stewardship for Non Priority Products
PANASONIC BACKS PSA'S PLEA FOR TV RECYCLING
By Matthew Henry
SYDNEY: Panasonic today ramped up pressure on the Rudd government to implement a national recycling scheme for old TVs, calling for an industry-funded scheme to be operational within three to four years.
Panasonic’s pledge to lobby for the scheme follows a recent letter by Product Stewardship Australia on behalf of leading TV brands expressing frustration and disappointment at environment minister Peter Garrett’s inaction on the proposed scheme.
Hon Trevor Mallard Minister of Environment
15 April 2008 Speech Notes
Environment Minster Trevor Mallard's speech to the New Zealand Packaging Accord One Day Seminar, The Conference Centre, AUT Tech Park.
A US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report on opportunities to cut greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions through improved management of materials and land notes that 37% of the country's total ghg emissions come from the provision and use of goods within the USA.
The truck has been developed to collect some of the estimated 10 million plastic agrichemical containers disposed every year in New Zealand.
A national approach for dealing with Australia's e-waste is closer to being realised, with the public invited to comment on proposed strategies.
Business leaders, community groups and local government step up to the Government’s challenge to develop a new packaging product stewardship scheme for New Zealand
In September 2007, the government released a cabinet paper of proposed legislation for a national waste levy, product stewardship, reporting requirements on waste data and a consolidation of waste legislation in a new bill.
Thursday, 19 June 2008, Press Release: New Zealand Government
New waste legislation will offer economic incentives and rewards to businesses and councils who do their bit for waste reduction
Demand for recycled goods is down, causing a billion dollar industry to lose much of its steam. But another byproduct of the recycling industry's downturn is the creation of new opportunities.
Television manufacturers have proposed a levy of about $30 on imported televisions sets to pay for the cost of recycling, and an industry agreement on how to pay for the environmentally-safe disposal of unwanted computers looks within reach.
A proposed bill in the California State Assembly would require producers of certain products and packaging to change the materials they use and develop better ways to deal with the products when they're disposed of.
A new advisory board has been appointed to provide advice to the Environment Minister on issues relating to waste minimisation, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard said today.
New Zealand Herald
MP claims full support for levy on landfill waste
5:00AM Tuesday April 08, 2008
Green MP Nandor Tanczos says he has been given unanimous support from a select committee for his Waste Minimisation Bill that includes a $10-a-tonne levy on waste going to landfills.
Efforts to establish a recycling scheme for unwanted computer equipment have hit a stumbling block, with "two or three" multinational computer manufacturers refusing to support a system under which they would pay a levy on imported computers.
New Zealanders strongly support a levy on solid waste but they are divided on who should receive the money, according to survey results released by the Product Stewardship Foundation today.
The Product Stewardship Foundation (PSF) with New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development undertook a ShapeNZ survey of New Zealanders last week on Waste Levies and Product Stewardship. The survey had 2791 respondents with a margin of error of +/- 1.9%.
The Ministry for the Environment have released the criteria for the Waste Minimisation Fund
The purpose of the Waste Minimisation Fund is to boost New Zealand’s performance in waste minimisation. There is considerable scope to reduce waste and increase the recovery of useful resources from waste. Lifting our performance in recovering economic value from waste also provides environmental, social and cultural benefits and reduces the risks of harm from waste.
This will require investment in infrastructure and systems for waste minimisation and developing educational and promotional capacity. The purpose of the fund is to provide some of the funding to ensure that this occurs.
The Ministry for the Environment has released the Waste Minimisation in New Zealand Discussion paper
Click here to read the document
Click here to visit the MFE website
Media Release 27th May 2008
A provincial agency is recommending Ontario scrap the $5 per tire "disposal" fee charged to drivers when they get rid of their old tires, and replace it with a levy charged to manufacturers and importers that they could pass on to consumers.
In New Zealand and Australia the disposal of old paint and paint containers is largely uncontrolled and the potential impact it could have on the environment is alarming. In NZ, Resene started working on the PaintWise concept in 1999 with a 6 month trial conducted in 2004. Meeting with 3R in mid 2004 provided much needed impetus, resource and know-how to take the concept from trial to permanent rollout. Since then, Resene and 3R have worked collaboratively to cement, extend and improve the Resene PaintWise service.
Agrecovery was formalised in 2004 when 3R Group was commissioned to develop a solution for on farm plastics for a Sustainable Management Funded project. The Agrecovery Foundation which is a not for profit trust, was established in late in 2006 with Agcarm Inc, Federated Farmers of NZ Inc, Horticulture NZ Inc, Environment Waikato and Fonterra Cooperative Co Ltd as trustees. Working with a diverse group of stakeholders, 3R designed the programme which as launched in April 2007 and now has collection points nationwide.
There are 2.5 million fridges in New Zealand homes and businesses and the Fisher and Paykel Appliances programme is a commitment to energy efficiency and preservation of the environment.
