Waste Reform Delay Sparks Fears of Economic Consequences
New Zealand's waste and resource recovery sector is calling for bipartisan support to prioritize waste reform. The government recently delayed the introduction of new waste legislation, citing 'other Government priorities.' This decision has left the sector reeling, with some warning that further delays could have serious economic and environmental consequences.
Nic Quilty, chief executive of WasteMINZ, said that the sector had been waiting for regulatory certainty for years. Delaying reform risked further investment uncertainty, missed economic opportunities, and continued pressure on councils, businesses, and communities.
New Zealand generates almost two kilos of rubbish per person per day, more than twice the global average. The country's material productivity is also lagging behind other OECD countries, with a ranking of just 59%. Quilty emphasized that waste and resource recovery was too important to be treated as a partisan issue.
The sector contributes over $3.3 billion to New Zealand's economy and provides essential infrastructure for economic development while protecting public health and the environment.