by Duncan Wilson | 29 May 2023 | article, Reports, Waste, Waste & Recycling
Eunomia undertook a comprehensive review of New Zealand’s waste and resource recovery infrastructure in 2020-21. The summary report for the project is now publicly available and can be downloaded here.
The project covered three phases:
1. Stocktake of existing facilities and services. The study gathered information and data on the number and types of facilities and services as well as the types and quantities of material they handled. While much of the information provided was commercially sensitive, the summary report provides an aggregated view of 10 key resource streams as well as Class 1 landfills and energy recovery. Note that the data is a snapshot in time.
2. Identifying and prioritising infrastructure gaps. This phase of the project was conducted with input from an Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) which comprised 18 subject matter experts representing a cross section of the industry as well as central government. Gaps and options were further tested through the input of a series of technical reference groups for each material stream.
3. Applying a strategic lens. This phase synthesises many of the ideas that emerged through the work into a strategic framework. It proposes the concept of a ‘circular resource network’. In this network the resource recovery system is consciously designed to facilitate the circular flow of materials through the economy, by ‘completing the circle’.
For further information contact info@eunomia.co.nz.
by Duncan Wilson | 14 Nov 2018 | article, Councils, Policy & Strategy, Presentation, Recycling, Reports, Waste & Recycling
Director Duncan Wilson presented on the Impact of China National Sword at this year’s WasteMINZ conference in Christchurch. The analysis concluded that, while the impact has been major so far, we are probably still only at the beginning of the changes that we will see. Recent data highlights the fact that New Zealand’s relies heavily on a small number of countries to take our material. If these countries further restrict the material they accept it could lead to real issues for what we do with our recyclables. A range of actions are likely to be necessary to secure the future of the industry.
To view the presentation click the download button below:
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The Ministry for the Environment has also released our report on the impact of China National Sword in NZ.
You can download a copy of the report by clicking the button below:
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by Duncan Wilson | 17 Oct 2018 | article, Councils, News, Policy & Strategy, Recycling, Sustainability, Sustainable Business, Waste, Waste & Recycling
In the course of our work we talk to lots of council members, stakeholders, and members of the public. The topic of Waste to Energy comes up regularly. Waste to Energy is common in many places overseas such as UK, parts of Europe, Japan, and it is becoming more common in China and the USA. But New Zealand doesn’t have any Waste to Energy facilities that process municipal waste. In this article for Revolve magazine Dr Dominic Hogg and Duncan Wilson examine the pros and cons of burning waste to generate energy.
Click the button below to download article:
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Or see the article in Revolve magazine:
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by Duncan Wilson | 31 May 2018 | article, Councils, News, Policy & Strategy, Recycling, Reports, Waste, Waste & Recycling
The discussion document Rebooting Recycling – What can Aotearoa do? has been released by WasteMINZ. Eunomia worked with WasteMINZ and the recycling industry to develop the document.
Overview:
The collapse in international recycling markets has left the recycling sector in New Zealand in a vulnerable position. Without positive action to address the issue, recyclable material could be sent to landfill, councils and communities will suffer financially, and operators could go out of business. Action from the Government is needed. There are some things that need to happen immediately, including:
– enabling access to funding,
– facilitating national communications, and
– obtaining better data on recyclable materials.
There are also some things that will take longer, but that will help build a more robust system and deliver a more circular economy. These actions include:
– revising the national waste strategy,
– changes to the waste disposal levy,
– product stewardship and design,
– ongoing communications, and
– positive public procurement of recycled products.
While there is a lot to do, everything that has been set out in this discussion paper can be achieved using existing funding sources and legislation. The sector is engaged and willing to work positively with the Government to ensure our sector is thriving.
Finally, this crisis also represents an opportunity, the opportunity to build a new system that can deliver better outcomes for our communities, our environment, and our economy. Together we can reboot recycling and create a circular economy for Aotearoa.
To download a copy of the discussion document click the button below:
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by Duncan Wilson | 2 May 2018 | article, Councils, Recent, Recycling, Reports, Strategy, Waste
In this article from Revolve magazine Duncan Wilson looks at the past and future of waste planning in New Zealand.
The way we manage waste has evolved significantly over the last 30 years. Unfortunately not a lot of credit for that can go to our waste planning. If we are going to meet the challenges of the next 30 years we are going to need to think differently. We are going to need to do things differently. Our waste plans need to be about more than just when and what bins get collected. They need to be about how we make our communities better.
To download the article click the download button below:
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by Duncan Wilson | 22 Jan 2018 | Councils, News, Policy, Recent, Recycling, Strategy, Waste
Eunomia worked with the WasteMINZ TA Forum to update the Local Government Waste Manifesto that we originally helped create in 2018. Since the first Manifesto was produced there have been a range of significant changes in the sector. These include the impacts of China’s ‘National Sword’ policy, the ongoing impacts of Covid 19 and the global economic recession, and a growing awareness around the need to tackle plastic pollution.
The updated Manifesto was released on 4 August 2020. It sets out a number of additional actions for Government that will enable real reductions in waste to landfill and reduce the costs borne by councils and their communities. Together with the original 5 actions, the key elements are:
- Review the New Zealand Waste Strategy to set a clear programme for action
- Expand the Waste Disposal Levy and progressively raise the levy to reduce waste to landfill
- Officially adopt the National Waste Data Framework to enable better planning and monitoring
- Introduce a Container Deposit Scheme to lift recycling rates and reduce litter and marine pollution
- Implement mandatory or co-designed product stewardship schemes for tyres, e-waste and, agrichemicals, and farm plastics
- Invest in onshore and local infrastructure for processing recovered materials
- Standardise household rubbish and recycling collection systems
- Take action on plastics and packaging to reduce pollution and make sure all packaging used or made in NZ can be re-used or recycled
To download a copy of the updated Manifesto click the download button below:
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To download a copy of the orignial Manifesto click the download button below:
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by Duncan Wilson | 23 Jul 2017 | Councils, News, Recent, Recycling, Reports, Waste
Eunomia worked with Auckland Council to produce this zero waste events guide. The guide is designed for the non-waste specialist, in particular event managers. It will help you reduce the amount of waste your events produce and work towards zero waste. It also signposts to useful detail in appendices and special case studies (available from Auckland Council), so you can drill down where you need more information.
Click the button to download a copy of the main guide.
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The key information is also available online through the zero waste events website. Click the link below:
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by Duncan Wilson | 2 Jul 2017 | News, Organic, Policy, Recent, Recycling, Reports, Strategy, Sustainability, Waste
Eunomia Research & Consulting undertook research to improve understanding of the impacts of possible changes to the structure and rate of the Waste Disposal Levy.
The study, which was commissioned by a consortium of businesses and councils, showed that there are likely to be real benefits for NZ through putting in place a well-structured levy regime. The research found there would be significant benefits in terms of waste minimisation, employment, and the economy. Key features should include:
- Extending the levy to all types of fills
- A large increase in the rate of the levy
- A differential between ‘active’ waste and ‘inert’ waste
- An escalation to the target rates over time
- Increased monitoring and enforcement, and
- Targeted spending of levy income.
Download the summary report
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Download the full report
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by mmwd | 12 Apr 2017 | Recent, Recycling, Reports
In this report, prepared jointly with Resource Media, we analyse recycling data from around the world to understand which countries really lead the municipal waste recycling league table.
Some eye-catching headline recycling rates are reported in the media, but the basis on which rates are calculated can vary considerably. In some cases, a great deal of commercial or construction waste is counted, while approaches to accounting for rejects and for intermediate processes like MBT vary considerably. Even within the UK, the four nations now report their recycling on different bases, with Defra producing an annual set of figures that allow the results to be compared on an equal footing.
Both the OECD and the European Commission produce annual municipal waste and recycling statistics, which eliminate some (but far from all) of the inconsistencies. However, there are a few high recyclers that are members of neither organisation – Singapore and Taiwan, for example, report recycling rates above 55%. Bringing these data together allow us to present a world league table of reported recycling rates, which shows Germany as the world leader on 66%.
This is only the start of the story, though, as these figures don’t really compare like with like. Taking account of the different ways of counting, Germany remains in top spot, but is less than two percentage points ahead of Taiwan, which rises to second place, while Wales is in third.
The report also shows the rapid progress that Wales is making, and that the coutry is rapidly closing in on Germany’s established place at the top of the chart.
This report is available free of charge. Press the silver button and supply a few details about yourself in order to access the download.
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by Duncan Wilson | 30 Oct 2015 | Councils, Presentation, Waste
WMINZ – The Horror of 240L Wheelie Bins
What is so Horrible Anyway..? 15 years of observations − Waste Not have been going through bins and bags of rubbish for a looonnng time now − A few things become obvious after a while − Let’s have a look…
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by Duncan Wilson | 20 Jun 2012 | Recycling, Reports, Waste
Taking waste out of waste – LG Magazine Article
Councils, like most sectors of society, have been feeling the pressure to constrain spending following on from the last global financial crisis. But ‘doing more with less’, as much as it sounds like a corporate cliche, is actually no bad thing. Adversity can force us to look for new and better ways of doing things. The current focus on ‘fiscal restraint’ means that when councils are looking at re-tendering their waste contracts, price and value for money are more than ever at the head of the key criteria list. The waste sector is changing at an ever-increasing rate due to new technologies and the growing realisation we need to minimise what we throw away. But I predict there will be even greater change driven by the need to innovate and find new and better ways of working.
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by Duncan Wilson | 20 Apr 2012 | Recycling, Reports
Reuse centres are frequently established and run by community-based organisations, a sector that is often lacking in technical expertise or the financial resources to buy in any expertise needed. A number of issues were identified during the establishment of the Whakatane reuse centre that would be common across most reuse centres in New Zealand. A large amount of formal documentation and processes were also produced which would apply to the majority of reuse centres. This establishment guide has been developed to provide guidance, information, standard documentation and templates to any groups planning to establish a reuse centre.
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