Waste Levy
What is waste levy and why are we paying for this?
The Government introduced the waste disposal levy in 2008/09, initially set at $10 per tonne for all material sent to landfill. The levy is designed to send a price signal to the market that landfill disposal is the least desirable option for dealing with waste.
The Government has now gazetted regulations to increase and expand the national waste disposal levy and reduce the increasing amount of rubbish ending up in New Zealand’s landfills, from 1 July 2021. These regulations will be in force from Thursday, 13 May 2021.
Last year, Cabinet agreed that the waste levy for landfills that take household waste will increase from the current $10 per tonne – set in 2009 – to $20 per tonne on 1 July 2021. This rate will progressively increase each year to $60 per tonne in July 2024. The waste levy will also be applied to construction and demolition disposal facilities on 1 July 2022 and managed and controlled fill facilities on 1 July 2023. It’s important to know that the money raised however is reinvested in waste infrastructure and services. New Zealand’s infrastructure needs a massive improvement if it comes to collecting waste. We are aiming to create a better platform between councils, so that we are able to recycle more within New Zealand. At this moment we don’t have not enough recourses throughout the country to accept waste the same way between councils.
What increasing and expanding the levy will do.
Increasing and expanding the levy will help recognise the real costs of waste, make it fairer for everyone and incentivise materials to be reused and recycled rather than just taking it to the tip. The levy increases are likely to have a minimal impact on a family’s weekly budget. The Ministry for the Environment estimates that when fully implemented, the new levy could increase the cost of the weekly council kerbside rubbish bag by about 25c, depending on individual council decisions. The aim is to reduce waste, what also will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from landfills.
Landfills and the Emissions Trading Scheme
The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), was introduced in 2008 to address climate change.
It helps New Zealand meet the international targets we have committed to as a country by putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2013, organisations that own landfills were included in the scheme. This is because when the organic waste in a landfill collected from businesses and the community breaks down it naturally produces landfill gas, which is made up of a number of gases, including methane – a greenhouse gas. To significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our landfills, companies like Waste Management invest heavily in technology and infrastructure, which enables them to capture over 95% of the landfill gas. This is then either converted into electricity to supply homes and businesses across New Zealand or destroyed to stop it entering the atmosphere. The emissions trading scheme also impacts on the cost of disposal at landfill. The landfill is an emitter of carbon dioxide and emissions are calculated and priced based on a tonnage rate applied to carbon. The carbon price is determined through the emissions trading scheme. The amount of gas that the landfill site produces is calculated annually and a ‘surrender obligation’ is generated.
What does this mean for the planet?
Protecting the environment from climate change by capturing most of the greenhouse gas that is created from your waste.
About us
Off The Wall Marketing translates the growing demand for sustainability into practical tools and working methods for companies, industry associations, and governments.
We want to make a change in doing business, not only because it contributes to a sustainable world, but also because organisations themselves benefit from it.
Andre Hendriks
021 0734711
info@offthewallmarketing.co.nz
www.offthewallmarketing.co.nz