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Waste Minimisation Act
The WASTE MINIMISATION ACT 2008 which passed in September 2008 contains two main provisions: a waste levy and stewardship provisions.
The new Waste Minimisation Act allows for product stewardship schemes which will collect and recycle products instead of sending them to landfill. In addition there are provisions for the Minister of the Environment to declare products to be priority products meaning schemes must be developed for these.
The Act leaves the creation of the scheme up to the market. The Ministry for Environment want to approve it, and potentially charge for that approval process.
Section 12 of part 2 of the Act outlines what must be in the scheme, these include:
o Duration of the scheme
o Reduction in harm to the environment
o Time frames within the scheme
o Reporting arrangements
In addition, to get the Minister to accredit the scheme there needs to be a list of persons involved; arrangements for running the scheme and how it will be funded. There is a benefit in being accredited.
If the scheme is accredited then the Minister may pass regulations prescribing a fee for a take back service (part 2 s23 (c))and regulations making people comply.
The Levy will come into force on July 2009 and it appears it will be paid our quarterly to councils who get 50% of the income on a population basis. The levy will be $10/tonne of waste and will be reviewed every 2 years.
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