Action on Plastics

The Government is proposing to move away from hard-to-recycle plastics via a mandatory phase-out. This means, over time, a range of hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics will be banned from use and manufacture in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Read the full consultation document here.

This consultation closes at 5pm on 4th December 2020.

Use the form below to make your submission. A short answer is offered for each question, please feel free to make changes to any of the answers, or skip straight to the bottom of the form and press submit.

Please note, the Zero Waste Network will not use or share your details for anything except sending this submission to the Government.

Name*
First Last
Iwi, Hapū, Organisation or Company Name
Email*
Introduction
To the Minister for the Environment, I welcome the Government’s proposal to move away from hard-to-recycle and single-use plastic items under the Waste Minimisation Act. We are in a global waste crisis and I want to see the Government make bold plans to address this. I support the Government’s proposed plan but I think we should go further. I am really concerned about tackling plastic waste and I think we need to address this issue by not only banning unnecessary plastic waste but also implementing reuse systems and creating a circular economy. Aotearoa’s precious coastlines, marine wildlife and land environment and our streets and communities depend upon this Government taking bold action on plastic waste.
Your personal message * (Why is this issue important to you?)
Technical detail
1. I agree with the description in this document of the problems with hard-to-recycle plastic packaging and single-use plastic items. This proposal will bring Aotearoa New Zealand in line with overseas current best practice. 2. I believe MfE have mostly identified the correct objectives. The main objective should be amended to: “reduce the impact on our resource recovery system and environment from hard-to-recycle plastic packaging and single-use items through significantly reducing the amount in use, increasing the scale and uptake of reuse systems, and increasing safe recycled content in packaging and systems that support the increased recyclability of each product.” 3. I agree that the options listed for shifting away from hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics are the correct options to consider. I believe these options could be blended to support a long-lasting and effective move away from reliance on all single-use items and to avoid unintended outcomes from a ban. 4. I agree MfE have identified the right criteria (including weightings) for evaluating options to shift away from PVC and polystyrene packaging, oxo-degradable plastics and some single-use items. More weight should be given to how well each option aligns with strategic direction to ensure highest ranking outcomes sit highest up the waste hierarchy. 5. I agree in part with MfE’s assessment of the options, and the decision to take forward only one option. I support mandatory phase-outs of all the items listed (with the exception of plastic straws). I would like to see positive regulatory and policy options implemented alongside a ban to support reuse alternatives and increase recycled content in products. 6. I agree with the proposed phase-out of PVC and polystyrene packaging as set out in two stages, however the proposed time-frames are too slow. 7. I believe MfE has identified the right packaging items that would be covered by a phase-out of PVC and polystyrene packaging. 8. I agree the proposal should include all PVC and hard polystyrene packaging in stage 2 of the phase-out (eg, not just food and beverage and EPS packaging). This is because PVC is commonly used in consumer packaging in non food and beverage contexts. Any PVC or hard polystyrene packaging can become a contaminant in the 'easy-to-recycle' plastic streams, so it's better to be consistent and phase-out all hard PVC and PS packaging. 9. The benefits of phasing out all PVC and polystyrene packaging (hard polystyrene and EPS) by 2025 include the increased potential to provide high quality PET to reprocessors. EPS is not widely recyclable and creates plastic litter which harms our waterways and persists in the environment for hundreds of years. Phasing it out will help protect our waterways and soils. 10. I believe there are practical alternatives to replace hard-to-recycle packaging (PVC, polystyrene and EPS). 11. I agree with a mandatory phase-out of all oxo-degradable plastics by January 2023. The quicker we get rid of these, the better, so we would like the phase-out of these to happen by June 2021 12. If you manufacture, import or sell oxo-degradable plastics, which items would a phase-out affect? Are there practical alternatives for these items? Please provide details. n/a 13. I think MfE has identified the right costs and benefits of a mandatory phase-out of the targeted plastics, although a more holistic assessment of the costs and benefits that does not separate the environment out as an "affected party" distinct from human society and our economy would be helpful/more meaningful. 14. I believe an additional benefit to phasing out the targeted plastics is the opportunity for businesses and community enterprises to develop reuse schemes and reusable packaging systems. The mandatory phase-out of the targeted single-use items is likely to also lead to a reduction in other single-use packaging, due to changing social norms and more availability of reuse schemes. 15. Increased scale and uptake of reusables would make it easier for me to move away from hard-to-recycle plastic packaging and use higher value materials or reusable/refillable alternatives. Regulatory and policy measures to level the playing field between single-use and reuse, nationwide infrastructure to support reuse (such as washing facilities), combined with funding for locally-based community engagement would also help. Mandatory recycled content for plastic packaging and products, more transparency & onshore reprocessing facilities and better designed collection and sorting systems for recycling would help ensure that higher value plastics collected for recycling in New Zealand actually get reprocessed. 16. I fully support the mandatory phase-out of all of the listed single-use plastic items, except for plastic straws. I believe that consultation with the disabled community about a possible straw ban and/or exemptions should take place before any decision is made to ban plastic straws. I do not support exempting single-use coffee cups & lids, or single-use plastic cups and lids made of plastics 1, 2 and 5 from the phase-out. 17. Yes, I strongly support the proposal to include items made of degradable, oxo-degradable, biodegradable and compostable plastics. I suggest altering the proposed definition ingle-use plastic tableware to include paper bowls/containers with plastic or wax linings and that the definition of single-use plastic produce bags is broadened to include within the scope of the phase-out plastic net bags. 18. I believe 12 months is an appropriate phase-out period except for single-use cups. For single-use cups, two years would allow time to implement reuse infrastructure, collaboration with businesses and undertake community engagement 19. I believe the most impactful role for the Government is to use regulation, policy & investment to increase the uptake, accessibility (including affordability), reach and availability of reusable alternatives for single use coffee cups. In regards to wet-wipes I support transitioning from wet wipes containing plastic to those not containing plastic as soon as practicable. 20. If you are a business involved with the manufacture, supply, or use of single-use plastic coffee cups or wet wipes (that contain plastic), what would enable you to transition away from plastic based materials in the future? n/a 21. I consider that with formal Government regulatory, policy and financial support for reuse systems and community engagement, some towns could become single-use cup (SUC) free by 2022. Replicating the successes of those towns could lead to a SUC free Aotearoa by 2023. I support transitioning from wet wipes containing plastic to those not containing plastic) as soon as practicable e.g. by Jan 2022. 22. I agree MfE has identified the right costs and benefits of a mandatory phase-out of single-use plastic items. 23. I support MfE creating a compliance, monitoring and enforcement strategy for the phase-out proposals. The community can assist by reporting breaches to MFE.
Withhold publishing personal details
All or part of any written submission (including names of submitters) may be published on the Ministry for the Environment’s website, www.mfe.govt.nz. Contents of submissions may be released to the public under the Official Information Act 1982, if requested. Under the Privacy Act 1993, people have access to information held by agencies about them. Any personal information you send to the Ministry with your submission will only be used in relation to matters covered by this document. By leaving the checkbox below unchecked you are indicating that you would prefer your name NOT to be published in the summary of submissions.
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