Amy Adams17 MARCH, 2013
A project that will use recycled potato
starch to produce more than 17 million compostable
packaging trays annually is among the successful
recipients of more than $4 million in government
funding.
Environment Minister
Amy Adams today announced funding of more
than $4 million to 11 innovative waste minimisation
projects around New Zealand.
Earthpac receives $2.1
million for a project to manufacture compostable
meat and vegetable trays. The trays are
produced by capturing starch generated from
washing potatoes.
“Currently, more than
200 million polystyrene trays are estimated
to go to landfill each year in New Zealand.
As a country, we need to be thinking smarter
about ways to reduce our waste,” Ms Adams
says.
“That is why I am pleased
to be able to back a project that will make
a significant difference to the amount of
waste going to landfill and provide a fundamental
change in the way waste is managed.
“This is a project which
shows Kiwi ingenuity is able to develop
world-leading, practical ideas that enhance
our clean, green image.”
More than 670 tonnes
of potato starch, which is normally discharged
to a wastewater plant, will be used annually
to make the compostable trays.
Other funding recipients
include Environment Canterbury which receives
$144,000 to carry out a feasibility study
to minimise hazardous treated timber waste.
The project will have
a particular focus on earthquake-related
building and demolition waste in Canterbury.
The Project Litefoot
Trust has been awarded $197,000 to establish
a recycling programme for sports clubs around
the country. So far the project has encouraged
60 clubs in the Wellington region to recycle
paper, cardboard, plastics and food waste.
“Successful applicants
that have been awarded funding have really
thought outside the square and have been
proactive in identifying ways to minimise
waste going to landfill in New Zealand.
“Supporting these projects
through the Waste Minimisation Fund is a
practical way the Government can encourage
New Zealanders to reuse, recycle, recover
and decrease the amount of waste going to
our landfills.”
For more information
on the Waste Minimisation Fund go to: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/waste/waste-minimisation-fund/index.html
Overview of the successful
funding recipients:
Compostable packaging
trays
Earthpac Ltd and Griffins
Auckland
WMF contribution: $2.1 million
Project description: Earthpac will capture
starch from washing potatoes and use it
to manufacture compostable packaging trays.
Plasterboard recycling
CID Resource Recovery Ltd
Auckland
WMF contribution: $525,000
Project description: CID Resource Recovery
Ltd will construct a waste plasterboard
recycling plant at its existing resource
recovery facility in Auckland. 80% of the
waste plasterboard will be converted into
reusable gypsum product and the remaining
20% of paper, and contaminants such as nails,
will also be recycled.
Whanganui Resource Recovery
Centre
Wanganui District Council
Location: Manawatu-Wanganui
WMF contribution $405,000
Project description: The Whanganui Resource
Recovery Centre project will significantly
increase the range of waste minimisation
services available in the Whanganui district.
The Whanganui Resource Recovery Centre will
include a drop-off site which will collect
a greater range of products for re-use,
recycling or recovery, as well as an education
centre.
Disposal of legacy agrichemicals
AgRecovery Foundation
Nationwide
WMF contribution: $199,000
Project description: This grant provides
co-funding for the collection and disposal
of legacy chemicals (those chemicals not
covered by the voluntary Agrecovery Foundation’s
container and chemical collection programme)
for 2013, while the Agrichemicals Review
2012 is underway. This Review, also co-funded
by the WMF, involves key industry, local
authority and user stakeholders and will
make recommendations to the Minister for
the Environment for improving the effectiveness
of the product stewardship framework for
waste agrichemicals and their containers.
Recycling programme
Project Litefoot Trust
Nationwide
WMF contribution: $197,000
Project description: The Project Litefoot
Trust will establish a recycling and recovery
programme for sports clubs and households
around New Zealand. The project will encourage
sports clubs to recycle paper, cardboard,
plastics and food waste.
Pulp and paper solid
waste initiative
SCION
Nationwide
WMF contribution: $150,000
Project description: The New Zealand Forest
Research Institute will determine viable
options for solid waste minimisation for
the forestry sector. The study plans to
recycle or recover 50% of the industry’s
current solid waste flows.
Best and worst packaging
awards
Wanaka Wastebusters
Nationwide
WMF contribution: $150,000
Project description: Wanaka Wastebusters
will run the Unpackit Best and Worst Packaging
Awards to encourage New Zealanders to discuss
packaging and waste. The project will support
New Zealand householders and businesses
to choose smarter packaging by raising awareness
and providing them with up to date information
and resources.
Treated timber waste
minimisation
Environment Canterbury
Canterbury
WMF contribution: $145,000
Project description: The Treated Timber
Waste Minimisation project will investigate
the practicality of the proposal and develop
a sustainable business model for the large
scale collection and reuse, recycling and/or
recovery of hazardous treated timber waste.
The project will have a particular focus
on earthquake-related building and demolition
waste.
Zero waste programme
Para Kore Marae Incorporated
Taranaki and top of South Island
WMF contribution: $140,000
Project description: Para Kore Marae Inc
will implement the Para Kore- Zero waste
programme on 20 marae in Taranaki and Te
Tau Ihu o te Waka a Maui (Northern South
Island). Para Kore plans to encourage widespread
zero waste behaviour change throughout Maori
communities.
Cone stabilising strip
HotShot Productions Ltd
Waikato
WMF contribution: $60,000
Project description: HotShot Productions
will re-use waste rubber conveyor belt material
from Waikato mines to produce a New Zealand
Transport Agency-approved traffic cone stabilising
strip.
Agriwaste
Otago University
Nationwide
WMF contribution: $40,000
Description: The project will use wine industry
waste as a parasite management tool; and
seafood industry waste for controlling footrot.
Amy Adams1 MARCH, 2013
Environment groups out of touch with New
Zealanders
Environment Minister
Amy Adams is disappointed but not surprised
that environment groups have resorted to
scaremongering over proposed changes aimed
at strengthening the Resource Management
Act.
Contrary to claims,
core environmental protections have been
maintained in the Resource Management Act,
and will, in many cases, be strengthened
by the Government’s proposals.
"Where clauses
have been proposed for deletion from the
existing purpose sections of the Act, this
is only where independent and recognised
experts have identified them as unnecessary
duplication that is already provided for
through other parts of the Act. This is
made very clear in the discussion document.
“I would have expected
Labour, the Greens and environmental groups
to have a better understanding of the RMA,
so I can only assume they are intentionally
trying to mislead.
“The simple fact is
the RMA has become cumbersome, uncertain
and highly litigious. If these groups cannot
understand this, then they are out of touch
with everyday New Zealanders.
“The RMA, as well as
being environmental legislation, is also
our primary planning framework, and in that
regard, it is not delivering in a way that
meets the needs of New Zealanders.
“These groups need to
get out of the office and talk to communities
and businesses. They will tell them what
they have told me – they are facing years
and years of uncertainty while decisions
are made whether a project can or cannot
proceed.
“In most cases, it is
not about whether a particular project can
or cannot proceed, it is about the time
and cost to reach that decision.
“The money spent on
having to fight to get ahead or defend a
position, is money that our households and
businesses are missing out on.
“Environment groups
seem determined to oppose change. Only recently,
a coalition including Forest and Bird, the
Environmental Defence Society and Ecologic
wrote to me warning that the Environment
Court was not equipped to make substantial
value judgements – and yet they now oppose
proposals aimed at tackling this very issue.
“Do these groups really
think that the ability of someone to get
a consent faster to build their house, or
extend their deck is an assault on the environment?
“I was appalled to hear
yesterday that the horticulture industry
has spent $30 million dollars in RMA compliance
costs over the past 12 months. That simply
cannot continue, and reinforces why the
Government’s proposals are badly needed.”
Ms Adams also dismissed
claims that the proposals unreasonably interfere
with local decision-making.
“Councils have been
let down by successive governments taking
a hands-off approach to major issues for
far too long. It has been hugely unfair
on councils and it is now time for the Government
to step-up and offer more support. New Zealanders
are looking to central government to show
strong leadership.”
