11. NICKY WAGNER (National) Link to this
to the Minister for the Environment
What, if anything, will he do to give effect to the Prime Minister’s statement at the Labour Party annual conference that “We can now move to … minimise, if not eliminate, waste to landfills.”?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for the Environment) Link to this
The goal of minimising, if not eliminating, waste to landfill is a long-term goal that aligns with the Government’s focus on sustainable development. Significant progress has been made, under the New Zealand waste strategy and the New Zealand Packaging Accord 2004, in minimising and diverting waste from landfill, and there is more we can do. Working in partnership with industry and local government to develop markets for recycled products, and supporting and strengthening product stewardship schemes are just two areas where we are currently focused.
What does the Minister say to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s comment that the Government’s failure to follow through on key actions of the New Zealand waste strategy “undermines the whole process of democratic engagement with Government”, with the result of a loss of confidence that “may raise questions about the Government’s commitment to the New Zealand waste strategy, and even to other strategies.”?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
The 2-yearly review of the waste strategy will be completed shortly, and the Government will need to consider that review before deciding what other measures might be desirable to support the Government’s goal of sustainable development, particularly in the area of waste minimisation. Can I say that I, and other members of this House I am sure, welcome the current interest of the National Opposition in recycling.
Dave HereoraHon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
In 1998 there were at least 209 landfill sites in New Zealand. Today there are just 60 landfill sites, and we expect another 10 sites to close within the next 18 months. By 2010 we expect to have reduced the total number of landfill sites to 43 quality, engineered locations. I can also advise the member that the volume of waste to landfill has decreased, on a per capita basis, since 2002. This is due, in part, to a substantial increase in the amount of material that is recycled. I acknowledge there is still a great deal to do, but we will continue to make good progress working in partnership with local communities and industry.
Nandor TanczosDoes the Minister agree that the excellent Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill, currently before the Local Government and Environment Committee, provides a package of measures to give effect to the Prime Minister’s statement, including provision for economic instruments—which was the subject of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report—and will the Minister be encouraging Nicky Wagner and the National Party to give effect to their new-found enthusiasm for waste minimisation by supporting my bill?
Madam SPEAKERHon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I am pleased to advise the member that the key principles of the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill do align with Government policy. In particular, the Government is supportive of the introduction of a legislative framework to back up or support industry-led product stewardship schemes, where that might be necessary or appropriate. The Government also supports the concept of a waste levy, to assist or improve waste minimisation initiatives. The member has conceded previously that some parts of his bill are overly prescriptive, and I agree with that view, but I look forward to seeing how the bill develops and progresses in the select committee process. Yes, I would certainly encourage members of the Opposition, including National members, to support aspects of the bill.
R Doug WoolertonHon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I note the support of a substantial number of the industrial sector, and the overwhelming support of local government, for exactly that sort of levy.
Why has that Minister’s ministry kept secret the October 2005 ministry report on packaging and recycling, which found this Government’s strategy to be useless, when the original research contract makes it plain that this document would be publicly released?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I am not aware of any document that the ministry has kept secret.
What sort of leadership is the Minister’s ministry providing in meeting the Prime Minister’s goal of eliminating waste, when the ministry’s own figures show that waste has grown from 41 kilograms per staff member in 2003 to 101 kilograms per staff member in 2006—an increase of 250 percent in just 3 years?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I am very pleased with the ministry’s, and general Government departments’, compliance with the Govt3 programme. The member might be interested to know that, for example, in terms of packaging material across the country there has been a very substantial reduction in the amount of material that goes to waste.
What sort of leadership is the Government showing on eliminating waste, when the annual reports published by Government departments total over 26,000 copies and, when stacked, exceed the height of the Beehive by four times; or is this just another case of the Government saying one thing and doing the opposite?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
It is a substantially preferable leadership than that shown by submitting written questions asking how many pages are in such reports.
How can the Minister seriously say that his Government can minimise, if not eliminate, waste to landfill, when the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment found that the ministry had made little progress in improving waste data, vital for evaluating the effect of current policies, that current legislation is acting as a barrier, and that an independent review is needed to oversee and report on the New Zealand waste strategy, giving his Government has made such appalling progress?
I remind members that points of order are meant to be taken in silence. [ Interruption] No, I warned before also.
I seek leave to table the leaked internal Ministry for the Environment report of October 2005 showing that the Government’s waste strategy is flawed.
I seek leave to table the Ministry for the Environment’s financial review of 2005, which promised a review of the New Zealand waste strategy by the end of 2006.
I seek leave to table a press release from the Packaging Council of New Zealand admitting that there is not currently any consistency to the measurement of waste recovery across New Zealand.