Latest news with #SueCoutts
Scoop
7 days 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
7 days 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
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
NZ's First Chance In 20 Years To Catch Up On Waste
Press Release – Zero Waste Network Countries around the world already have these schemes in place and are realising remarkable results. New Zealand should follow the best examples from around the world and create a producer responsibility framework that works for both reuse and high The Government has announced proposals for updating the Waste Minimisation Act and the Litter Act. For the first time in nearly 20 years, Kiwis have a chance to catch up with other countries to reduce our waste and litter. However, last week's budget slashed funding for innovations that reduce waste, an illogical move that risks hobbling the government's own waste proposals before they are out of the starting gate. 'Our waste and litter laws are really old, so we've fallen well behind most similar countries. Future-proofing how we reduce waste is really popular, with 60% of us wanting more effective reuse and recycling, ' says Sue Coutts of the Zero Waste Network Aotearoa. The current Waste Act was passed in 2008 and the Litter Act in 1979. 'The proposed law update is a good move to a clear, fair way of reducing waste, in which those who make or import packaging pay for how it's handled. This is known as 'extended producer responsibility' or 'product stewardship'. With this proposed law update, we could get a container deposit return scheme for the 2+ billion beverage containers we use every year.' 'It would also open the door to more stewardship schemes for e-waste, textiles, and all types of packaging.' 'Countries around the world already have these schemes in place and are realising remarkable results. New Zealand should follow the best examples from around the world and create a producer responsibility framework that works for both reuse and high quality recycling.' 'We need waste solutions that deliver real measurable results for our environment, communities and economy. Extended producer responsibility takes the burden off ratepayers and councils, while creating jobs and income streams for communities and keeping valuable resources in use.' 'With waste levy revenues returned to waste cutting innovation, and more ambition from our MPs to modernise how we reduce waste and litter, we can put the systems in place to effectively deal with resources before they become waste.'
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
NZ's First Chance In 20 Years To Catch Up On Waste
The Government has announced proposals for updating the Waste Minimisation Act and the Litter Act. For the first time in nearly 20 years, Kiwis have a chance to catch up with other countries to reduce our waste and litter. However, last week's budget slashed funding for innovations that reduce waste, an illogical move that risks hobbling the government's own waste proposals before they are out of the starting gate. 'Our waste and litter laws are really old, so we've fallen well behind most similar countries. Future-proofing how we reduce waste is really popular, with 60% of us wanting more effective reuse and recycling, ' says Sue Coutts of the Zero Waste Network Aotearoa. The current Waste Act was passed in 2008 and the Litter Act in 1979. 'The proposed law update is a good move to a clear, fair way of reducing waste, in which those who make or import packaging pay for how it's handled. This is known as 'extended producer responsibility' or 'product stewardship'. With this proposed law update, we could get a container deposit return scheme for the 2+ billion beverage containers we use every year.' 'It would also open the door to more stewardship schemes for e-waste, textiles, and all types of packaging.' 'Countries around the world already have these schemes in place and are realising remarkable results. New Zealand should follow the best examples from around the world and create a producer responsibility framework that works for both reuse and high quality recycling.' 'We need waste solutions that deliver real measurable results for our environment, communities and economy. Extended producer responsibility takes the burden off ratepayers and councils, while creating jobs and income streams for communities and keeping valuable resources in use.' 'With waste levy revenues returned to waste cutting innovation, and more ambition from our MPs to modernise how we reduce waste and litter, we can put the systems in place to effectively deal with resources before they become waste.'
Scoop
22-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Zero Waste Network Aotearoa Responds To Proposal To Update Waste Minimisation Act
Press Release – Zero Waste Network We are especially pleased to see the focus on extending producer responsibility. The proposals will put a better framework in place for developing schemes to collect up products, like e-waste and textiles, and packaging, like drink bottles, cans and … The Government announced its proposals for updating the Waste Minimisation Act and the Litter Act today. The proposals would combine these two Acts into one, extend producer responsibility and permit local government to use its share of the waste disposal levy on a wider range of activities unrelated to waste. 'The Zero Waste Network Aotearoa has been advocating for the Waste Minimisation Act to be updated for many years. Most of the proposals outlined in the consultation documents are positive steps forward for our sector. We need these basic blocks in place so we can build more effective reuse and recycling systems.' says Zero Waste Network spokesperson Sue Coutts. 'However some careful thinking needs to be done to find the right balance on the range of activities councils can spend their waste levy fund allocation on.' 'We are especially pleased to see the focus on extending producer responsibility. The proposals will put a better framework in place for developing schemes to collect up products, like e-waste and textiles, and packaging, like drink bottles, cans and cartons so they can be reused and recycled.' says Sue Coutts. 'Making producers responsible for covering the real costs to collect, sort and transport the products and packaging they put into the market will take the burden off ratepayers and councils. A better producer responsibility framework is the first step towards setting up effective and easy to use systems like a Container Deposit Return Scheme that would collect 85%+ of our empty drink bottles, cans and cartons and radically reduce litter.' 'The Waste Levy is a critical tool which uses a charge on each tonne of rubbish to create a pool of capital to invest in building waste prevention and reduction infrastructure. This strategy only works if the pool of capital is ring fenced for waste minimisation and closely related activities. Otherwise, it will fail to address the very problem it exists to solve. 'says Sue Coutts. 'Expanding the range of activities that councils can spend their allocation on to cover anything that could have an environmental benefit or reduce environmental harm sets the scope too wide. Diluting this fund creates a mismatch between the very high public expectations around waste minimisation and the actual capability of councils to deliver.' 'It does make a lot of sense to remove the waste levy exclusion for waste-to-energy. Closing this loophole means landfill and waste-to-energy disposal options would both face the same cost structure which is a fairer way to approach it.' says Sue Coutts. 'We encourage everyone who wants to prevent waste, litter and pollution and increase reuse, repair and recycling to have their say before this consultation closes on 1 June. Then the challenge for us all will be getting the best version of the updates through the house so we can get on with the practical work of putting real solutions to our waste problems in place.'
