11. NANDOR TANCZOS (Green) Link to this
to the Minister for the Environment
Does he support the five core policies of the New Zealand waste strategy, three of which are: a sound legislative basis for waste minimisation and management, adequate and accessible information, and efficient use of materials?
Does the Minister agree that the core policy of efficient pricing would be assisted by a waste levy, as supported by both local government representatives and most of the waste industry, and contained in Part 5 of my Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill, due for its first reading this afternoon, and at what level does he think it needs to be set to provide an effective disincentive for waste generation?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
Yes, I am generally supportive of a waste levy, and to that end I have asked the Ministry for the Environment to facilitate discussions between stakeholders such as local government and the industry. In respect of the level, I would like to see further discussion of that matter if agreement cannot be reached by those parties as part of the select committee process that I expect will follow.
Does he agree that efficient use of materials would be assisted by the implementation of extended producer responsibility, as contained in Part 6 of my bill, to encourage brand owners to design waste out of their production and delivery systems, and does he agree that the danger of wholly voluntary agreements such as we have to date is that they allow irresponsible brand owners to free-ride?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
Broadly, yes. I have been pleased with the progress to date in the voluntary regime, for example, in the printing and packaging industry, but I do acknowledge the reality of the free-rider issue, and I look forward to it being further canvassed in select committee discussions.
Does the Minister believe that the Government should lead by example in the area of waste minimisation, as my bill requires; if so, how is replacing beige wastepaper bins with green wastepaper bins, as is currently being done in Parliament, consistent with that; and how is replacing water carafes and glasses with disposable plastic cups and energy-efficient water coolers consistent with that?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I am pleased to confirm to the member that the Govt3 project is encouraging Government agencies to improve the sustainability of their activities, and that all 43 core public service agencies are now involved in that programme. I am advised that the Parliamentary Service has had a recycling scheme in place since the early 1990s and is currently in the process of relaunching that brand. Although I am a little surprised that the member objects to his waste bins turning green, I can confirm that I have no responsibility for the decisions of the general manager of the Parliamentary Service.