Editorial Alistair Sayers Chair the Packaging Forum
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autumn 2017 Edition 10 The Packaging Word is the official publication of The Packaging Forum | packagingforum.org.nz editorial Alistair Sayers Chair The Packaging Forum Over the summer New Zealanders Through our Public Place Recycling This year we are kicking off a and around 500,000 international and Glass Packaging schemes national Litter Less Recycle More visitors enjoy our beaches, lakes we have supported recycling and campaign partnering with Be a and national parks and go to waste management at over 30 Tidy Kiwi and with the support of concerts, festivals and sports events including The Winery Tour, many councils around the country. events around the country. Northern Bass, ASB Tennis, Taupo We will develop a consumer Summer also presents real Cycle Challenge, Splore, Sounds awareness campaign which will challenges to waste management Splash, Portobello Blues Festival, encourage consumer to the right and whilst many of us may have Marlborough Wine Festival and NZ thing. We are also looking to our the opportunity to take a summer Trail Runs. The average recycling rate members to support this through break, the waste industry is at its across these events is now at 79%. their own media platforms and busiest. In seaside and tourist areas thereby increase our reach to the The numbers show our schemes are there is a massive 400% increase community. making a difference. in waste. Drinks sales increase to 1. The glass recycling rate is 73% We will trial smart technology three times above normal levels. and equivalent to the European bins in key tourist regions. New My personal experience of visiting average; technology means that collection Resource Opotiki’s recovery and servicing costs can be reduced. 2. Over 69% drinks containers are centre’s in the Bay of Plenty was The project will help implement recycled; of a totally committed and well guidelines, developed in conjunction 3. Around 175 million cartons were run facility. Definitely a place to go with local authorities about the best recycled last year in Public Place back to! practice selection and installation Bins through the PPRS Scheme; of litter and recycling bins. Whilst double the number of drinks and in its first year containers are recycled over 64% of the Top 100 Litter Brands 4. 100 tonnes of soft plastic summer, we know that thousands of in New Zealand are already PPRS packaging were dropped off for bottles and cans end up in rubbish members and we are working hard recycling at stores. bins because of the high demands to convert the remainder. The on the hospitality sector. That’s Our members are also consumers, Packaging Forum and its schemes why it’s so important that we work rate payers and tax payers who are committed to keeping our with venues and event organisers to have joined a voluntary product country clean and green. improve the quality of collections stewardship scheme so they can We are very excited about this new separating glass containers contribute to improving recycling campaign which will see us working by colour where possible and and reducing litter. None of us want with Keep New Zealand Beautiful facilitating better systems for back to see our brands littered on our and encourage all members to get of house teams. beaches, reserves or roads. involved. Opinion Piece | malcolm alexander chief Executive Local Government New Zealand “Under current estimates, by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than there are fish.” MORE ACTION NEEDED ON PLASTICS Earlier this year the government container deposit system to levy on plastic bags introduced in proposed a ban on products decrease the number of recyclable the United Kingdom, with money containing plastic microbeads, beverage containers going to collected going to charities, led to a step we and many others landfill or not being recycled an 85 per cent reduction in plastic welcomed. was passed with overwhelming bag use and raised £29m ($50.4m) support. In 2015 a remit calling for charity in six months. This proposal follows the for a compulsory levy at the point introduction in 2015 by The We think the development of a of sale to act as a deterrent and Packaging Forum of a recycling mandatory product stewardship reduce the total number of single system to handle soft plastics like scheme for bottles would also use plastic bags produced was shopping bags, bread bags, frozen reduce the environmental impact also strongly supported. food bags and food wrap. Tangible of these products. steps like this aimed at improving It is clear to us that more work When launching the microbeads the environment are positive and is needed and we think Kiwis are proposal Environment Minster Nick should be applauded. open to these sorts of initiatives. Smith told media: “Under current Plastic bags cause harm in their However based on the response to estimates, by 2050, there will be creation, when they go to landfill the microbeads announcement it more plastic in the ocean than and when they are littered. seems New Zealanders are keen on there are fish.” further steps to reduce the impact While efforts to make recycling As a country we should be doing of single use plastics from the bags easier are excellent, actually much more to keep plastics out environment. deterring people from using them of our marine environment and in the first place has been shown Remits proposed at LGNZ’s last landfills. to be successful overseas, with two conferences show the local levies on plastic bags introduced government sector also thinks in Denmark, Ireland and China more work is needed to reduce, leading to a dramatic reduction in reuse and recycle. plastic bag use. Last year a remit calling for a It has been reported that a 5p (9c) national-mandated beverage hot off the press! education Tread Lightly Caravan The Packaging Forum has allocated $15,000 to the Tread Lightly Caravan to build on its 2016 school’s education programme and bring awareness of recycling to its school’s programme. In addition, Tread Lightly will continue its soft plastics recycling awareness. Dawson Primary School, Otara, is the first of sixteen schools in the Auckland region to participate in the Tread Lightly BLENHEIM PUBLIC Packaging scheme and Love NZ, the Caravan’s Soft Plastics Recycling PLACE RECYCLING BINS grant arrived in time for the busy summer holiday season. Programme this year. Red and yellow wheelie bins The Tread Lightly Caravan’s Soft reappeared around central SPLORE FESTIVAL Plastics Recycling Programme, Blenheim and Picton for the FIRTH OF THAMES proudly supported by Asaleo Care summer recycling programme. The Marlborough District Council Regular segment: The Green Desk and the Soft Plastics Recycling repeated its summer trial of the with Lily Peacock. 95bFM, Auckland programme, aims to support schools in the Auckland region to brightly coloured plastic bins which Interview with Fred Kublikowski were funded by the Public Place event manager and Sophie Barclay undertake soft plastics recycling Recycling scheme in 2015 before sustainability manager, Splore. and to increase the awareness of deciding whether to put in more Barclay says education is a big part students, school staff and families permanent recycling bins. of the role and that they have been of soft plastic recycling. Schools WAIHI focussing on educating vendors are being provided with a large soft and working with the Glass plastics recycling bin, like the ones Western Bay of Plenty District Packaging scheme to educate found at supermarkets and the Council has been granted funding people about how amazing glass Warehouse, smaller bins for each to extend its glass collecting is and the importance of colour of their classrooms and posters system by 10 bins in three local separation. Splore promotes glass and flyers to help students and areas — Katikati, Te Puke and as being 100% recyclable and great teachers to sort their soft plastics Athenree with an additional six for the environment. bins at Athenree to cover holiday correctly. bit.ly/2mqSZvm periods. With thanks to the Glass Under our Licensing Agreement with the Ministry for the Environment, The Packaging Forum and members of our accredited schemes are eligible to use the Love NZ brand in accordance with the Style Guide and with prior written consent from the MFE. Please contact donna@packagingforum. org.nz for more information. packagingforum.org.nz | glasspackagingforum.org.nz | recycling.kiwi.nz PERSPECTIVES ON POLICY LOCAL glass, metal and plastic collections of plastic containers). containers. Advocates The recycling rate for beverage GOVERNMENT containers in South Australia is remind us of the days 1 BACKS A NEW 76.5% . when CDL was in place CONTAINER Introducing a 10 cents deposit on in the 1950s where a beverage containers would cost DEPOSIT TAX penny per beer bottle $75 million per year and will put There has been news and three pennies per the cost of drinks containers up by coverage about soft drink bottle was the 13.5 cents (deposit plus handling fee). $75 million to increase the standard refund payout proposals for a recycling rate by 7% makes no container deposit by dairy owners. economic sense. legislation (CDL) Drinks containers are around The Packaging returning within the 25–30% of kerbside recycling Forum says next two years to try to collections so councils will still stop dumping of waste Over 69% beverage containers need to provide collections and are recycled in New Zealand a tax will impact the economic materials through having (this doesn’t include commercial viability of the recycling industry. a 10 cents payback on collections and hospitality 1 bit.ly/2m9PYyx PROJECTS & INITIATIVES Round up on Events The Glass Packaging scheme has again Sounds Splash and Taupo Challenge in funded glass collections at the ASB Tennis, partnership with Clean Events and Green Winery Tour, Marlborough Wine Festival Shoot Pacific.