The Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill seeks to use economic measures to discourage dumping in landfills, encourage recycling and reuse, and set in place extended producer responsibility so that brand owners must factor in waste generated over the life of their products.

CRN believes that the Bill provides an opportunity and solid platform for much needed discussion on all matters pertaining to waste and recently made a submission to the Bill on behalf of the entire Network.

The following CRN Members also made submissions to the Bill on behalf of their communities and organisations. Some members made individual submissions.

If you made a submission and are happy for it to be read on the CRN website, please contact the [email protected].

"This Bill will have consequences for the future that cannot be perceived today. The members of CRN trust that those elected with the privilege of navigating procedures over the next few months will do so with the integrity and honour that has been bestowed upon them by the people of Aotearoa New Zealand…"
Read the whole of CRN's submission

"Central Otago WasteBusters Inc (COWB) are in total support of the key principles of this Bill and commend it to the house. We see the Bill as a means of measuring and managing progress on the New Zealand Waste Strategy..."
Read the whole of Central Otago Wastebusters' submission

"The social benefits of this community owned resource recovery operation are immense and ongoing. The support from local businesses is not only essential for cost effectiveness, especially transport of materials, but makes this a model for true sustainable community development...."
Read the whole of Wastebusters Trust Canterbury's submission

"Unfortunately the philosophy of allowing voluntary compliances to this strategy has been abused by the Packaging Industry and some local authorities. The NZ general public have shown a willingness to support waste reduction initiatives, time after time..."
Read the whole of Community Business & Environment Centre's (CBEC) submission

"The current level of recycling in the Horowhenua is well down on national levels, yet the potential to divert here is the same as elsewhere in the country. Currently in excess of 20,000 tonnes is going to the landfill. This volume will fill the landfill faster than was originally intended…"
Read the whole of Environua's submission

"Wanaka Wastebusters is a resource recovery based community enterprise, owned by, and operated for the benefit of local residents. We felt so strongly about waste and inefficient resource use in our community that we built our own resource recovery centre…"
Read the whole of Wanaka Wastebusters' submission

"MCE sees enormous economic and environmental opportunities that exist in developing products and markets within resource recovery in Aotearoa. All factors must be taken into consideration when making decisions of this kind as seen in quadruple bottom line accounting, so we gain clarity about true long-term costs…"
Read the whole of Mana Enterprises' submission

"The Seagull Centre Trust has been set up to support moves toward zero waste and retrieves reusable products from landfill. We strongly support the general intent of the Bill. The proper management of wastes is critical to New Zealand's environment and economic future…"
Read the whole of Seagull Centre Trusts' submission

"The proliferation of waste in Aotearoa and the way in which we deal with it is well overdue for revision. We purport to be a clean and green nation, yet in reality the reason we have been able to maintain this reputation is not due to our environmental practices, but more because there are not enough of us living here to make a mess…"
Read the whole of Marianna Tyler and Stephen Bradford's submission

On 8th June 2006 CRN submitted the following to the Ministry for Environment regarding the status of the 12 May 2006 National Waste Levy Proposal.

"Waste Levies - some history

Waste levies have been used in New Zealand since 1998 when Christchurch City Council introduced one. In 2005, three Auckland Territorial Local Authorities (Waitakere City, Rodney District and North Shore City) introduced a similarly worded by-law to require all waste collectors operating in their areas to be licensed and be charged a local waste levy.

As a result, two major waste companies initiated a judicial review to question the power of Territorial Local Authorities to set by-laws for this purpose. The High Court found that provisions for local levies don't exist in the Local Government Act and since March 2006 Christchurch City Council has been unable to charge the levy and is facing a funding shortfall.

Ministry for the Environment has been asked to provide advice to the Minister by the end of June regarding potential models for a waste levy.

The Ministry is also seeking feedback, contributions and comment from the wider community with regards to a proposal drafted in May 2006 prepared largely by the waste management companies, Waste Management Ltd and Envirowaste.

By July 2006, the Minister will decide if there is a case to develop a national waste levy and any necessary legislation and regulations. This is a particularly tight timeframe.

CRN Support

In principle, CRN supports the concept of a national waste levy but has a number of key apprehensions as outlined below with the National Waste Levy Proposal (NWLP) currently drafted for the Ministry for the Environment."

Please Note: Views expressed within these submissions are those of the authors and not neccessarily CRNs. Those submissions written by CRN are written to contain the views of CRN's members on the whole. Submissions from members contain views and opinions which best reflect those of that particular member group and submissions written by individuals are purely their own opinions.