Latest news with #NZD
Scoop
44 minutes ago
- Business
- Scoop
New Research Proves A Container Deposit Return Scheme Will Cut Litter And Waste Fast In New Zealand
The new 'Littered with evidence research from Reloop clearly shows Container Deposit Return Schemes dramatically reduce beverage container litter across diverse regions worldwide. The evidence in favour of the schemes effectiveness is consistent and … A quarter of all our litter, by volume, in Aotearoa, is discarded drink containers, polluting our rivers, roadsides, parks and beaches 1. New international comparison research shows New Zealand could halve that litter, fast with a Container Deposit Return Scheme, like 58 countries and states have already done 2. Across the world, the Reloop research shows, countries with Container Deposit Return Schemes have reduced their litter by more than half, on average. A well-designed scheme, like the 5.5 million people in Slovakia enjoy, might cut our littered drink bottles, cans and cartons by as much as 75% – and massively increase the proportion of drink containers that get recycled from 54% to over 85%. Slovakia introduced a Container Deposit Return Scheme in January 2022 in which people can claim back a deposit of €0.15 (NZD$0.26) on each container they return. In Summer 2021, before the scheme, metal beverage cans and PET beverage bottles represented 10% and 11% of all litter collected in Slovakia, respectively (by count). By Summer 2023, just 18 months after launch, cans and PET bottles each made up only 2% of litter – down 78% and 72% 3. Beverage containers make up over half of all food and drink packaging sold globally—and the waste is staggering. In 2024 alone, 1.3 trillion drinks were sold in PET, glass, or metal containers, worldwide. Locally, a whopping 2.6 billion drinks are sold in containers here in New Zealand each year. Every day, about 4 million of those drink bottles, cans and cartons get landfilled or littered in Aotearoa. That's why they are such a common sight in our towns and along rural roads and why so many end up in our ocean. The new 'Littered with evidence' research from Reloop clearly shows Container Deposit Return Schemes dramatically reduce beverage container litter across diverse regions worldwide. The evidence in favour of the schemes' effectiveness is consistent and overwhelming. Countries and states with Container Deposit Return Schemes for beverage packaging see rapid and dramatic reductions in beverage container litter—in some cases cutting it by far more than half in just a few years. 'The development work for a New Zealand Container Deposit Return Scheme has already been done. The update to our waste and litter laws, proposed last month, paves the way by ensuring those who make or import packaging pay for how it's handled. All we need now is the ambition from our MPs to modernise how we reduce waste and litter and catch us up with the rest of the world,' says Sue Coutts of Zero Waste Aotearoa. All our parks, streets and beaches look better with less litter. Litter-free places are safer for children and wildlife. Less plastic litter means less plastic in our oceans and less micro-plastics everywhere. As well as dramatic cuts in litter, it's also been shown Container Deposit Return Schemes improve the quality of recycling, making more high-quality recycled material available. Making new drink containers from recycled materials produces less greenhouse gas emissions than making containers from virgin plastic, glass or aluminium. When companies avoid using raw materials, they help reduce pollution and other environmental harm, such as mining. Surveys show 80% of New Zealanders want a Container Deposit Return Scheme here. Many fondly remember returning bottles to claim deposits in the 1970s and 1980s. 'Where the previous Government fell short, this Government has an opportunity to implement a popular and tangible, low-cost policy,' says Sue Coutts of Zero Waste Aotearoa. Note: 1 Keep NZ Beautiful National Litter Audit 2019 – Total beverage containers found in litter 4,956 units / 106.98 kg. 2 Littered with evidence: Proof that deposit return systems work, Reloop, June 2025 – Global average litter reduction of 57% for countries with Container Deposit Return Schemes.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
New Research Proves A Container Deposit Return Scheme Will Cut Litter And Waste Fast In New Zealand
A quarter of all our litter, by volume, in Aotearoa, is discarded drink containers, polluting our rivers, roadsides, parks and beaches 1. New international comparison research shows New Zealand could halve that litter, fast with a Container Deposit Return Scheme, like 58 countries and states have already done 2. Across the world, the Reloop research shows, countries with Container Deposit Return Schemes have reduced their litter by more than half, on average. A well-designed scheme, like the 5.5 million people in Slovakia enjoy, might cut our littered drink bottles, cans and cartons by as much as 75% - and massively increase the proportion of drink containers that get recycled from 54% to over 85%. Slovakia introduced a Container Deposit Return Scheme in January 2022 in which people can claim back a deposit of €0.15 (NZD$0.26) on each container they return. In Summer 2021, before the scheme, metal beverage cans and PET beverage bottles represented 10% and 11% of all litter collected in Slovakia, respectively (by count). By Summer 2023, just 18 months after launch, cans and PET bottles each made up only 2% of litter – down 78% and 72% 3. Beverage containers make up over half of all food and drink packaging sold globally—and the waste is staggering. In 2024 alone, 1.3 trillion drinks were sold in PET, glass, or metal containers, worldwide. Locally, a whopping 2.6 billion drinks are sold in containers here in New Zealand each year. Every day, about 4 million of those drink bottles, cans and cartons get landfilled or littered in Aotearoa. That's why they are such a common sight in our towns and along rural roads and why so many end up in our ocean. The new 'Littered with evidence' research from Reloop clearly shows Container Deposit Return Schemes dramatically reduce beverage container litter across diverse regions worldwide. The evidence in favour of the schemes' effectiveness is consistent and overwhelming. Countries and states with Container Deposit Return Schemes for beverage packaging see rapid and dramatic reductions in beverage container litter—in some cases cutting it by far more than half in just a few years. "The development work for a New Zealand Container Deposit Return Scheme has already been done. The update to our waste and litter laws, proposed last month, paves the way by ensuring those who make or import packaging pay for how it's handled. All we need now is the ambition from our MPs to modernise how we reduce waste and litter and catch us up with the rest of the world," says Sue Coutts of Zero Waste Aotearoa. All our parks, streets and beaches look better with less litter. Litter-free places are safer for children and wildlife. Less plastic litter means less plastic in our oceans and less micro-plastics everywhere. As well as dramatic cuts in litter, it's also been shown Container Deposit Return Schemes improve the quality of recycling, making more high-quality recycled material available. Making new drink containers from recycled materials produces less greenhouse gas emissions than making containers from virgin plastic, glass or aluminium. When companies avoid using raw materials, they help reduce pollution and other environmental harm, such as mining. Surveys show 80% of New Zealanders want a Container Deposit Return Scheme here. Many fondly remember returning bottles to claim deposits in the 1970s and 1980s. "Where the previous Government fell short, this Government has an opportunity to implement a popular and tangible, low-cost policy," says Sue Coutts of Zero Waste Aotearoa. Note: 1 Keep NZ Beautiful National Litter Audit 2019 - Total beverage containers found in litter 4,956 units / 106.98 kg. 2 Littered with evidence: Proof that deposit return systems work, Reloop, June 2025 - Global average litter reduction of 57% for countries with Container Deposit Return Schemes. 3 Before and after: How deposit return systems cut beverage container litter, Reloop, April 2024
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Council issues warning with three strikes bin plan to combat 'upsetting' problem
Misuse your bin and you'll lose it. That's the message from a council in New Zealand that's fed up with people mixing the wrong items in with their recycling and compost. The problem is so bad in a community southeast of Auckland that Whakatāne District Council had to send 745 tonnes of green waste to landfill because it was contaminated with items that shouldn't go in the green bin, costing ratepayers NZD$143,000 ($138,000). In some cases, 67 per cent of waste was contaminated — the average is still a staggering 23.5 per cent — and this has meant one major recycling facility has refused to take the region's waste unless it's pre-sorted. 'It's quite upsetting when you see the stuff going to landfill… so we thought it was about time we actually took some steps to target the minority that aren't using the service correctly,' council's solid waste manager Nigel Clarke told Yahoo News Australia. Related: Aussie woman makes $15,000 from recycling scheme Similar trials have been undertaken in Australia, where residents were threatened with fines after three strikes in one Adelaide local government area. But across the ditch, the plan will see Whakatāne residents given two written warnings, and if problems persist, their recycling or green-waste bins will be taken away for three months. Whakatāne District Council isn't the first to trial confiscation in New Zealand, with South Waikato Hastings, Southland, and Hamilton all using similar methods. New Plymouth Council introduced its three strikes program after dead animals, nappies and even a shotgun were placed inside recycling bins. Addressing Whakatāne's own programs, Clarke said garbage collectors often find black plastic bags of rubbish and clothing in green bins. Pictures supplied to Yahoo show yellow bins full of building materials, and soft plastics that can't be processed by council and need to be taken to Woolworths. 'The odd things we've had are a deer carcass in the recycling, a whole toilet in the recycling,' Clarke said. 🗑️ Shoppers 'so happy' to see return of popular Woolworths initiative 🛒 Supermarkets reveal fate of 11,000 tonnes of soft plastics ✈️ Jetstar passenger request raises questions about recycling When residents have their green and yellow bins confiscated, they'll need to place recycling and garden waste in their regular bin, meaning it will go to landfill. And although that's regrettable, it will stop those households from contaminating everyone else's well-sorted waste. Bins will be returned after three months, but if the problem persists they'll be confiscated again. Clarke believes there are two reasons some residents don't 'do the right thing', a lack of education or indifference to recycling. Council has tried education programs in the past, and will renew them before the confiscation plan begins. 'The three strikes campaign will just have an effect on those who have a general disregard for the service,' he said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Techday NZ
5 hours ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
NZD $9.6 billion cloud spend looms but most are unprepared
Research from Spark indicates New Zealand's cloud spend is expected to reach NZD $9.6 billion by 2028, yet only a third of businesses are prepared to fully leverage cloud technology. The Spark State of Cloud 2025 report surveyed 400 IT decision-makers, revealing a significant gap between the recognition of cloud's strategic importance and actual readiness among organisations to implement it effectively. The report found that 70% of New Zealand businesses identify cloud computing as essential for future growth, but only 34% possess the infrastructure, governance, and technical maturity needed to make the most of their cloud investments. Despite these challenges, cloud technology adoption and investment are increasing across the country. Forecasts from IDC suggest that expenditure on public cloud services in New Zealand will nearly double from NZD $5 billion in 2024 to NZD $9.6 billion by 2028. This surge is expected to result in over NZD $22 billion in new revenue over the next four years, with public cloud contributing an estimated NZD $24.3 billion to the national economy in 2024 alone. Mark Beder, Spark Customer Director for Enterprise and Government, highlighted the need for stronger governance to boost business capabilities. He called for closer cooperation between executive leadership and IT teams when managing cloud and AI investments. "You can't unlock the value of AI, automation, or advanced analytics if you're building on outdated cloud infrastructure. Yet, over half of IT leaders say business decision-makers don't fully understand how critical cloud capability is to enabling these technologies," says Beder. He added, "If cloud continues to be treated as just an IT issue, New Zealand businesses risk being unable to scale innovation and realise ROI from advanced technologies. It's time to bring cloud into the boardroom and recognise it as the next competitive edge for businesses. "Spark's purpose is to help all of New Zealand win big in a digital world. Cloud platforms provide agile and scalable solutions for managing IT infrastructure and applications. Spark helps businesses choose the right mix of cloud services and plans tailored to your business goals. "That's why we're introducing a Cloud Maturity self-assessment tool for businesses, so they can test where they sit. The assessment will help to identify their cloud maturity, identify capability gaps and then Spark can help plan practical solutions." The State of Cloud 2025 report presents the Spark Cloud Maturity Framework, a five-stage model allowing organisations to benchmark their progress towards full digital transformation, ranging from early adoption to advanced integration. According to the report, only 14% of businesses have reached the highest transformational stage, with the majority still in the early phases of cloud maturity. Beder outlined the principal barriers to cloud adoption, referencing security concerns, lack of skills, and uncertainties over costs. He said, "Security, skills, and cost uncertainty are the top barriers holding businesses back – and they're not just technical challenges, they're strategic ones. Only a handful of organisations have reached the transformational stage of cloud maturity, where cloud is enabling transformative business outcomes. That means the vast majority are missing out on the speed, agility, and innovation that strong cloud foundations enable. Businesses who want to compete in the next wave of digital transformation need to get cloud-ready – and they need to start now. "Spark has cutting-edge technology and strategic guidance to empower your organisation to streamline operations, maximise efficiency and drive meaningful business results." The report suggests that, by addressing these issues and fostering a robust approach to cloud infrastructure, New Zealand organisations can improve their technical capabilities and drive economic growth through digital transformation.
Techday NZ
5 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Farmlands FLEX to deliver solar microgrids for rural sector
Farmlands has announced a partnership with Blackcurrent to launch Farmlands FLEX, a solar and technology joint venture aimed at reshaping energy sourcing and management in New Zealand's rural sector. Farmlands FLEX goes beyond solar panel installations by providing intelligent microgrid systems that are custom-built and managed to serve the specific requirements of working farms and orchards. The initiative seeks to supply farmers with greater energy independence, aiming to reduce power bills, maintain essential operations during outages, and potentially generate an additional income stream. Farmlands Chief Executive Officer Tanya Houghton said, "Rising energy costs are a huge concern for our customers. Finding solutions for on-farm energy needs have been a part of Farmlands' strategy for a long time." To support the profitability and productivity of farmers and growers, Farmlands offers five-year electricity pricing certainty through its partnership with electricity provider Meridian. In addition, Farmlands' fuel joint venture, Fern Energy, is now the country's largest rural bulk fuel provider after three years of operation. With Farmlands FLEX set to become a significant element of its wider service offering, Farmlands is positioning the new system as a response to ongoing industry challenges regarding energy reliability and affordability. Houghton stated, "The on-farm applications for Farmlands FLEX are wide-reaching - the 5am dairy shed power surge, keeping irrigation running during blackouts and protecting frost fans when electricity isn't available or there's an outage. Farmlands FLEX address real farm challenges." The new solution will be formally launched at National Fieldays, but Farmlands and Blackcurrent have indicated that information and consultation opportunities are available now for interested farmers and growers. Among the immediate benefits highlighted for Farmlands FLEX are up to 40 percent reductions in electricity costs, operational continuity during power outages, and the conversion of power expenses into a tangible on-farm asset. There is also scope for customers to generate new income through the sale of surplus energy to the power grid. The company cited examples where farmers have targeted electricity savings in the thousands of dollars per month, and one recent estimate indicated an annual savings of approximately NZD $55,000 for a single customer. Houghton encouraged farmers to begin their own assessments. "No need to wait for Fieldays, grab your power bill and call us to start talking about the options for your farm or orchard." Follow us on: Share on:
