The NZ Paper Forum and the NZ Paperboard Packaging Association’s joint submission on the Waste Minimisation Bill to the parliamentary select committee has recommended a number of changes to the original bill.
While they told the committee they strongly supported voluntary solutions for waste reduction such as the Packaging Accord, take-back schemes and extended producer responsibility initiatives, there was still a need to deal with a number of outstanding issues.
These included the need for a clear definition of waste and for industry membership on the new Waste Authority Board.
The two organisations also stressed that any product stewardship schemes should only be declared by the minister after full industry consultation and after a full cost benefit analysis is completed. Neither did they want to see local authorities have the power to make by-laws without consultation or the minister to have the power to prohibit the importation and/or sale of certain products.
Their submission has just been made to the committee on the standing order paper which recommended a number of changes to the original bill.
PrintNZ, which outlined the submission to its members warned them not to be complacent.
"If you have any waste from your business this Bill will affect you in some way!"
