Read about the highlights of our work in 20220
15 December 2020
February
- The Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme (SPRS) expands into Wellington with collection points at six Countdown and The Warehouse stores.
- The Glass Packaging Forum (GPF) submits its annual accreditation report to MfE.
March
- The Litter Less Recycle More project (managed by The Packaging Forum and the Auckland Litter Prevention Steering Group) publishes is Let’s put litter in its place report.
- The GPF awards five grants from its contestable fund.
April
- Recycling collections are affected by lockdown restrictions and the Glass Packaging Forum responds by facilitating solutions and urgent grant approval.
- Horizon Research publishes its report on litter and public place recycling showing greater awareness of public bins and that people are more likely to put litter and recycling in the correct bin.
- The Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme submits its first product stewardship accreditation report to MfE.
May
- The Public Place Recycling Scheme (PPRS) submits its annual report to MfE.
June
- The GPF awards seven grants through its contestable fund.
- The SPRS resumes collections following lockdown.
July
- In a pivotal point for packaging in New Zealand, Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage announces single-use plastic packaging as a priority product under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.
- Government announces the expansion and increase of the waste to landfill levy. The announcement is largely in line with Packaging Forum submission.
August
- The Packaging Forum establishes technical advisory groups for Compostable Packaging and fibre.
- The Ministry for the Environment publishes its report on the standardisation of kerbside collection, supporting glass separate collection, a position the GPF has long advocated for as a key policy.
- The Ministry announces consultation on the phase-out of hard-to-recycle plastics and some single-use plastics. The Forum welcomes the move, but with caution.
September
- The Container Return Scheme Working Group concludes and submits it report to Government. The Packaging Forum, represented on the working group by Rob Langford, voices its concerns as part of a minority report.
- The Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme returned 15 Auckland Countdown stores to its collection network.
October
- The Packaging Forum appoints Rob Lanford as its first CEO, to meet increased leadership and advocacy requirements in the packaging industry.
- The SPRS expands into Taranaki.
November
- Eight grants are awarded through our GPF contestable fund.
- The Packaging Forum holds a member-only briefing on the proposed Container Return Scheme (CRS) and our alternative Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model.
December
- Submissions made on members behalf regarding proposed phase out of hard-to-recycle and some single-use plastic items.
- The Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme celebrates its five year anniversary.
