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Waste Management NZ Limited was pleased to host today’s announcement regarding the national landfill levy by Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage at our composting Living Earth facility in Christchurch this morning.
Waste Management is supportive of the Government’s proposal to expand the national landfill levy scheme.
Waste Management Managing Director Tom Nickels says the company supports a broader application of the waste levy to cover all waste types and all disposal sites.
“The status quo of the levy only applying to about 11% of landfills, covering approximately 30% of waste disposed to landfills, does not sufficiently encourage investment into waste minimisation infrastructure or activities.
“It effectively encourages waste diversion to the lowest cost disposal outlets –unlevied landfills or offshore markets – which are not always subject to rigorous environmental standards.”
The Government’s proposal excludes cleanfills and farm dumps, however Waste Management recommends a common levy be applied to all landfills.
Waste Management also supports the Government’s proposal that additional landfill revenue be invested in solutions that reduce waste through the Waste Minimisation Fund.
In Waste Management’s view, Mr Nickels says the fund should prioritise large-scale infrastructure investments in facilities which achieve sustainable circular economy outcomes, such as New Zealand’s first tyre recycling plant that Waste Management was able to establish with the support of levy funding in 2018.