Change the economics
Funding the transition
Households and businesses want access to convenient reuse, repair and recycling systems so they can make the shift from a throwaway economy to a resourceful one. There are a lot of practical tools that we can use to change the way money flows through the economy to make zero waste and circular systems viable.
Product stewardship
Governments can use laws and regulations to create product stewardship and extended producer responsibility frameworks. These oblige producers to set up and fund the systems and infrastructure needed for practical repair and reuse systems as well as recycling collection, sorting and processing.
Use your buying power
Government, councils, businesses and households can all use their buying power to grow the resourceful parts of our economy. We spend a lot on waste management, we need to flip that so more cash flows through the organisations building zero waste and circular systems.
New ways of doing business
Reuse, sharing and rental models get the best use out of the resources and energy used to make and build the things we need. Aotearoa has a long tradition of community-led and māori enterprises that put care for our people and planet first.
There are two simple changes our government could make that would get a steady flow of investment into alternatives to waste disposal and increase trust and confidence in our recycling systems.
Waste disposal levy
The waste disposal levy is a ‘polluter pays’ tool. Businesses and households pay the levy on each tonne of rubbish they dispose of. This pool of cash gets invested in alternatives like reuse, composting and closed loop recycling systems. This fund was ‘ring fenced’ for waste minimisation but in July 2024 the Government changed the law and diverted half the fund away to other activities. This law change needs to be repealed.
Container deposit return scheme
A container deposit return scheme uses fees and incentives to double recycling rates from 45% to 90%. Consumers pay a deposit (say 20c) when they buy a drink in a bottle, can or carton which gives them an incentive to return their empties and get their cash back. Producer fees cover the cost to collect, sort and transport taking the pressure off ratepayers and councils. We need a scheme here in Aotearoa.
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