New Zealand is on the cusp of its biggest overhaul of waste and litter laws in nearly 20 years.
Following extensive public consultation, the Government has announced plans to modernise the country’s waste framework by amending the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and replacing the Litter Act 1979 with new legislation designed to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, strengthen enforcement, and support the transition to a circular economy.
The reforms are expected to be passed before the 2026 General Election and could have significant implications for businesses across a wide range of industries.
What's changing?
The proposed reforms focus on five key areas:
- Changes to waste levy funding, including how levy revenue is distributed to local authorities and expanding the purposes for which levy funds can be used.
- A new extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework, which would allow industry-led product stewardship schemes and pave the way for a future container return scheme.
- Stronger compliance and enforcement powers, including a wider range of penalties and sanctions that can be applied based on the seriousness of an offence.
- Tougher controls on litter and mismanaged waste, including new powers to issue notices for escaped waste on both public and private land and recover clean-up costs.
- Greater clarity around the roles and responsibilities of central government, local government, and the waste sector.
Why should businesses pay attention?
For many organisations, these reforms represent a fundamental shift in how waste is regulated.
Traditionally, waste has largely been treated as a disposal issue. Under the proposed framework, businesses may increasingly be expected to take responsibility for the full lifecycle of the products and packaging they place on the market.
Read more from Sarah Lee, Senior Associate, Simpson Grierson, in the latest issue here
