Mahurangi residents are being invited to have their say on proposals for a new waste strategy and waste legislation. Environment Minister David Parker says New Zealand is one of the highest generators of waste per person in the world.
“Every year, each New Zealander sends about 750kgs of waste to landfill, and much of this could be recycled, reprocessed or reused,” he says. “We can do better, and New Zealanders are demanding change.”
In 2019, waste contributed about four per cent of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions and around nine per cent of its biogenic methane emissions.
Government proposals include improving recovery and recycling systems, reducing emissions from organic waste, establishing long-term education programmes, and setting targets to reduce total waste volumes and litter.
Consultation will continue until November 26.
The consultation document and submission forms are available on the Ministry for the Environment’s website: https://consult.environment.govt.nz/waste/taking-responsibility-for-our-waste
