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 | 3 Apr 2018 | Councils, News, Recent, Recycling, Reports, Waste
Waste Data Indicators are now available! If you want to compare your waste and recycling performance to what happens elsewhere you need to be sure your numbers mean the same things. That is where the new Waste Data Framework Waste Indicators come in. We have worked with WasteMINZ and Waste Not Consulting to come up with a set of indicators that you can use to present and compare waste data. The indicators are:
- 1A – All waste to Class 1 landfills
- 1B – Waste to Class 1 landfills excl. special waste
- 2A – Domestic kerbside waste disposal rate
- 2B – Domestic waste disposal rate
- 3A – Domestic kerbside recycling recovery rate
- 3B – Domestic recycling recovery rate
- 3C – Domestic kerbside recycling contamination rate
All the above indicators are expressed in Kg per capita per annum. For a copy of the indicators and how to calculate them click the download button.
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by Duncan Wilson | 16 Mar 2018 | Councils, News, Presentation, Recent, Reports, Waste
This free webinar on solid waste bylaws was organised by WasteMINZ. It will be invaluable for any TA considering introducing or amending their bylaw or looking to implement the National Waste Data Framework.
During 2017, Eunomia Research & Consulting worked with the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region councils to develop a solid waste bylaw template. The template has been legally reviewed and provides draft clauses for all issues councils are likely to want to cover in their bylaw. It is freely available through WasteMINZ which contributed to the project. The template has been used by a range of councils since it was developed.
The live webinar was on 05 April, 2018. A recording of the webinar is now available if you were not able to join us at the time.
To access the webinar recording, click the button below.
Go to Webinar
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 | 11 Sep 2017 | Presentation, Waste
WasteMINZ is hosting a webinar on the waste disposal levy. Join us on the 21st of September at 8:30am. Eunomia’s Dr Dominic Hogg and Duncan Wilson, lead authors of the the recent ‘A Wasted Opportunity‘ report on the NZ waste levy will be the panelists.
Eunomia’s report highlighted what could potentially be achieved through well-designed changes to the levy. In this webinar, Dominic and Duncan will outline their approach to the study and discuss in more detail some of the key questions that arise from the report, such as:
- the economic impacts;
- controlling unintended consequences (like illegal dumping);
- the dynamics of different levy rates, and;
- how best to allocate levy income.
It is also your chance to quiz the authors about the findings.
To register for the webinar click here
by Duncan Wilson | 2 Aug 2017 | article, News, Policy, Recent, Reports, Waste
Duncan Wilson is featured in the August issue of Local Government magazine, talking about the recent Eunomia report on New Zealand’s waste levy. Click the button below to download a copy of the article.
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by Duncan Wilson | 31 Jul 2017 | Reports, Waste
Eunomia has constructed this handy downloadable calculator to help landfill owners assess the potential financial impact of applying for a waste composition or capture and destruction Unique Emissions Factor (UEF).
The file runs in excel and requires version 2003 or more recent. You will also need to enable macros for it to run. If you have any questions or feedback please get in touch at info@eunomia.co.nz
Download
For more information on Unique Emissions Factors for waste see: Guide to Landfill Methane in the ETS
by Duncan Wilson | 23 Jul 2017 | News, Policy, Recent, Uncategorized, Waste
Our waste levy research report has generated a lot of interest. Here are some links to media articles:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201849672/take-make-dispose-calls-for-landfill-levy-hike
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/national/94816836/Reluctance-to-charge-more-people-dumping-fees-blamed-for-rise-in-landfill-waste
http://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/news/2017/07/waste-levy
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1707/S00018/waste-disposal-levy-could-create-9000-jobs.htm
https://m.newsie.co.nz/news/42399-higher-levy-would-cut-waste-and-create-work.html
http://www.recyclingwasteworld.co.uk/news/new-zealand-could-increase-its-gva-by-287m-by-restructuring-its-waste-disposal-levy-says-eunomia-report/157045/
http://www.recyclingwasteworld.co.uk/news/new-zealand-could-increase-its-gva-by-287m-by-restructuring-its-waste-disposal-levy-says-eunomia-report/157045/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/midweek/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503658&objectid=11885818
https://t.co/WsgHHqrwWP
https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZWasteLevy?src=hash
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.
Download
The key information is also available online through the zero waste events website. Click the link below:
Go to Link
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 Duncan Wilson | 22 Jun 2017 | article, News, Procurement, Recycling, Waste
Rubbish collections are considered by many to be core council business. But the market has been changing. Rethinking old ways can deliver better economic, environmental and community outcomes.
Read Duncan Wilson’s article in Local Government magazine about council versus private rubbish collections.
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by Duncan Wilson | 5 Jun 2017 | Marine, Policy, Reports, Sustainability, Waste
This report, from Eunomia UK, highlights the potential for a measures-based approach to be more effective at tackling marine plastic litter than setting targets.
Marine plastics are an emerging issue facing policy makers. However, the information we currently have on the impacts of marine plastics is limited. This makes it challenging to identify what a ‘socially optimal’ level of marine plastic pollution would be. The lack of information seems to be encouraging a wide spectrum of policy responses, which range from a complete ban on many kinds of plastic at one extreme, to “do nothing until we’ve improved our data” at the other.
This document reflects upon the data challenge and explains why detailed monitoring of marine litter is difficult, expensive and ultimately, perhaps, unnecessary. It argues that setting reduction targets for marine plastics is unlikely to be effective policy. Instead, it proposes a “Best Available Technique” approach to the selection of measures, similar to the way in which industrial emissions are addressed.
This report is available free of charge. Press the button below to download.
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