Anne graduated B Tech (Food Tech) from Massey University in 1975. She worked in R & D and quality assurance in primary industry for 10 years before moving to Sydney with her husband and joining a public relations company.

Stuart and Anne moved to Bangkok in 1990. While living in SEA Anne continued writing and publishing, working for a variety of expatriate organisations on newsletters, brochures and catalogues.

When Stuart and Anne returned to New Zealand in the mid 1990s they purchased and ran a business, selling it in 2000.Anne has been freelance writing for many years, mainly in the technical food area and took up the role of Editor of Food New Zealand two years ago.

CONTACT ANNE - anne@peppermintpress.co.nz

In early 2006 a strategic review of the Accord will be carried out by an external consultant. This will give an overview of progress against Accord objectives and will highlight areas where more attention should be focused. It is expected that a robust communications plan will be just one outcome of this review.

Already well known for his work as Programme Director for Steel Can Recycling and his contribution to the 2004 Packaging Accord negotiation process, Bruce has a long-standing personal commitment to the success and sustainability of the recycling industry.

His objectives as chair of RONZ revolve around the need for the organisation to resource itself in order that it makes a full contribution to delivery of the objectives of the 2004 Packaging Accord while also improving the position of its member companies.

Bruce has had an interest in resource recovery since he was eight years old. He regularly bought stuff home from the rubbish burning trenches behind the Lincoln Maternity home and later from the Fort Dorset beach rubbish burning dump - it was at the mouth of Wellington Harbour!

His career history includes a long term commitment to establishing green waste composting as a mainstream practice in New Zealand and to make a living while building 9 plants throughout the country. Many of these plants are still in full production. He has worked as a supplier of new technologies to the scrap metal industry and is still involved in the development of processes for resource recovery from complex wastes.

As a 'light relief' Bruce also owns a business that supplies vineyard equipment in Australia and NZ.

A founding member of the Waste Management Institute of New Zealand Bruce was its president and journal editor for three years.

Since 1992 Bruce has managed the national recycling programme for steel cans and has worked towards making them a recognised recyclable. He is frustrated that there are still more cans discarded than recovered despite steel cans being generally accepted in kerbside collection contracts.

Bruce is encouraged for the future of the recycling services industry, "The Packaging Accord and the looming prospect of brand owner driven product stewardship initiatives will provide the resource recovery industry many new opportunities.

"RONZ, as the body representing recycling services industry will actively campaign for, and contribute towards, the success of this Accord simply because success will bring mutual benefits to all the Accord signatories and their memberships."

To contact Bruce 021 844 288 / bruce@steelcans.co.nz

YEAR 2 FUNCTION

At the official function held at Parliament House in October to mark year 2 of this 5 year initiative, Environment Minister David Benson-Pope welcomed the news that the Packaging Accord is on track to meet its 2008 waste reduction and recycling targets, and thanked businesses and communities for their commitment and leadership.

The Packaging Accord Year 2 Progress Report can be downloaded from the Packaging Accord website www.packagingaccord.org.nz

Speech by Tony Nowell - Chairman of the Accord Governing Board http://www.packagingaccord.org.nz/report.php

News Release from the Minister - Following the official Wellington Function http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=27357

Tony Nowell Interviewed on ASB Business News - 11th October 2006 http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/414443?video_id=851970

The landmark is the AA Auto Service & Repair building on the same site.

All contact/postal details remain the same.

The Packaging Council will be sending the following media release to all local newspapers throughout New Zealand, along with suggestions to householders for each day of the 12 days of Christmas to improve recycling rates over the festive period. The release will be accompanied with the above eye-catching graphic which summaries the key messages.

"Make this summer holiday a green one by following 12 simple steps recommended by the Packaging Council of New Zealand.

Whether it's buying presents, cards or food and drink for your Christmas lunch, you can do your bit to cut down on waste by making use of the recycling facilities provided by your local council.

Paul Curtis, Executive Director of the Packaging Council says that their holiday season campaign to raise awareness has been prompted in part by discussions with local councils and recycling operators as part of the Packaging Accord which is an agreement signed by the packaged goods industry with local and central government and recycling operators to improve the amount of packaging New Zealanders recycle:

"We generate an estimated 30% more waste over the summer holidays in line with international trends and most of it can be recycled if people put it into the recycling crate rather than the rubbish bin. The amount of tonnes of glass recycled actually goes up by about 50% in January but we know for example that sales of glass and cans go up 3 times our normal levels over the holiday period and we want to encourage people to recycle it all."

"Part of the problem is that people tend to know the collection times when they are at home but often these vary during the holiday period or they may be down at the bach and not know local arrangements."

The Packaging Council asks you to support its 12 days to a greener Christmas initiative and make a difference in your local community."

Under the Accord the Accord Secretariat is organising a workshop to address co-mingling i.e. single stream collection, for the benefit of all parties affected by this fundamental change to household kerbside collection practice, particularly given its impact on glass recovery rates.

The purpose of the workshop is to improve the quality of information available to all parties and we hope to have international speakers present.

Further information will be forwarded in the New Year as well as being posted to the Packaging Council and Packaging Accord websites.

In line with the Packaging Council's commitment to provide factual information to environmental policy development, it commissioned Covec (an applied economics practice) to conduct an independent economic assessment of the Green Party's Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill, addressing:

• the potential costs and benefits of a mandatory container deposit system, should it be introduced into New Zealand; and
• the potential costs and effects of the requirements for product stewardship programmes, as prescribed by the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill ("the Bill").

This report has been sent to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee to support the Packaging Council's submission on the Bill as well as the Minister for the Environment, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and key business leaders.

The analysis concludes that a deposit refund scheme would reduce waste to landfill by less than 3% (90,000 tonnes), but that the net cost to New Zealand would be up to $121 million per annum, or more than $1020 per tonne. The average cost of household kerbside collection is approximately $60 per tonne.

If under the Bill the Packaging Accord was not approved as a product stewardship scheme, then under section 60 all packaging would have to be returned to point of sale. The net cost to New Zealand would be up to $175 million per annum, assuming the same recycling rate as today.

The Packaging Council would find these costs to be unacceptable, particularly when 95% of New Zealanders have access to recycling facilities and the Packaging Accord is showing solid progress with more packaging recovered than is sent to landfill.

The report is intended to be a positive contribution to the debate on the Bill and to the future direction of waste policy in New Zealand.

The full report can be downloaded from the Packaging Council website:

http://www.packaging.org.nz/policy/policy_container_deposit_legislation.php

Her initiation was to sit through the Sustainable Packaging workshop run by Helen Lewis RMIT. Comment.......... "sooooo much information, I was releived to see the lunch arrive and give my brain a break!!"

Roshni has over twenty years of secretarial and personal assistant experience working with a wide variety of industries including chartered accountants, wine, cosmetics and more latterly automotive.

Roshni is married with twin boys, is a keen gardener, loves travel and watching rugby and netball.

In the packaging industry we often use chemicals and other hazardous substances. In July, the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA New Zealand) issued group standards for over 100,000 different hazardous substances.

A group standard is an approval under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 for a group of substances that are of the same type or used in a similar way.

Group standards cover a wide variety of products used in many different situations - everything from substances for home use, such as detergents and drain cleaners, to highly specialised industrial chemicals. They set conditions to manage risks to people and the environment, addressing the full lifecycle of a substance.

Once included in a group standard, products are approved under the HSNO Act. The importer, manufacturer or person using the substance must follow the conditions of the group standard.

Although group standards were introduced on 1 July 2006, their conditions are being progressively implemented. Some conditions come into effect on 1 January 2007. Others will become fully operational over the next few years.

Group standards are listed on ERMA New Zealand's website, at http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/hs/groupstandards.

They're also available on CD. For more information, call ERMA New Zealand on 0800 376 234, or email hsinfo@ermanz.govt.nz

Twenty-six businesses across the Auckland region were recognised at a gala dinner for successfully completing the Auckland EnviroSmart pilot programme and making a real improvement to the environment more…

The environmental business programme is a council initiative which assists businesses to reduce solid waste; use resources such as energy and water efficiently; purchase environmentally sound products and services; and achieve recognised Enviro-Mark®NZ certification to the Gold level (Enviro-Mark®NZ is a five level, third-party audited health, safety, and environmental management system).

Four companies celebrated at the event were members of the Packaging Council of NZ. They were Fonterra Brands NZ Ltd, Spicer Paper NZ Ltd, Alto Holdings Ltd and Huhtamaki Henderson Ltd.

"EnviroSmart gave the business a framework in which to environmentally audit the business and highlight areas for improvement." said Huhtamaki's General Manager Warwick Hay.

This successful pilot programme has led to a national EnviroSmart® programme which is currently recruiting businesses. The twenty-six businesses that successfully completed the programme were celebrated at a gala presentation event and dinner attended by the Governor-General of New Zealand, The Honourable Anand Satyanand; the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Morgan Williams; councils, business sector groups and Government agencies. The event was held at the Floating Pavilion, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland. The pilot programme was sponsored by councils, the Ministry for the Environment and Landcare Research.

Go to www.envirosmart.co.nz to find out more about the national EnviroSmart® programme and how your business can apply to join.

David Perchard, described as Europe's foremost expert on recycling policy (and rightly so) is also an engaging speaker and manages to inject his passion for recycling legislation into his presentation.

The Packaging Council is to be commended for helping to bring him to New Zealand.

Two sessions were held by David on the 17th October at Foodtech Packtech on his international experience of waste management, particularly the EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive and issues such as policy options for packaging regulation (Australia and the UK) and the pitfalls to be avoided.

As one who has seen it all before - throughout the EU - David Perchard has well-informed and considered advice for all sectors of the waste management industry.

As a consultant on the waste management industry to the EU and the governments of member countries, David's knowledge is, indeed, encyclopedic. Additionally, for those attending his seminars, it was clear that he had not just skimmed documentation of the New Zealand situation, he had studied it in some depth and was able to quote our statistics and make valid comments in relation to overseas situations.

His advice; "while it may be reasonable to adopt some of the waste minimisation and recycling legislative measures imposed in the EU, explore the effects of each piece of legislation in-depth, looking at the bigger picture, the so-called, unintended consequences, before adopting it wholesale (or even parts of it). Beware of international comparisons, much of the published data is collected using different methodologies and therefore is not comparable."

"The Packaging Accord is succeeding, let it proceed to its agreed endpoint before imposing overriding legislation which will add costs and may not have any additional effect anyway."

"What is important is not comparing New Zealand with others, but that the trend is in the right direction."

After all, (as reported by the European Environment Agency to the Commission) "Recycling is reaching its upper limits in some countries". Perhaps it is time for a calculation of our 'upper limits', taking into account what New Zealand, as a nation, can afford. The EU directive 'National Obligations for Meeting (recycling) Targets consider a 'small operator' as having a turnover under five million pounds sterling: hardly 'small' in New Zealand.

David compared New Zealand to Ireland, suggesting that both countries have a large neighbour (Australia and UK respectively) which provided us with a market for waste, which we cannot ourselves recycle. Both countries have lost, or are in the process of losing, manufacturers, which have capacity, and capability for recycling of some of our most visible waste streams, namely glass, metal and plastic bottles.

Having concluded that recycling capability has reached its limits, EU member countries are now actively engaged in developing 'sustainability' measures. "Eco-taxes', aimed at reduced use of packaging are appearing - in varying forms. Sometimes they are redundant because technological advances mean that it's economically valid for companies to use lower weights of packaging - they would have made the changes anyway.

There are many examples of actions taken by governments and industry sectors which have had limited results, due to the dynamic nature of every environment.

David Perchard's overriding message was, consult widely, take advice and think very carefully before imposing regulatory measures which will add costs and may not give a result which, in the end, reduces the cost to the environment - sustainability is becoming a strong driving force in managing mankind's footprint on our world.

Perchards has been engaged by some 280 companies and trade associations based in 26 countries working for clients in every continent except Antarctica!

Perhaps it was the early hour but the expected lively debate that a gathering of Members of Parliament and 'interested' parties, discussing a controversial new bill failed to spark.

Perhaps it was the early hour but the expected lively debate that a gathering of Members of Parliament and 'interested' parties, discussing a controversial new bill failed to spark.

Metiria Turei, spokesperson for Environmental Education for the Greens, spoke first, briefly describing the work she and Nandor Tanczos had undertaken when drafting the bill, touring the country and viewing existing recycling activity. She emphasised that they wanted a bill that grew out of consultation with all sides of the issue, that encouraged a collective approach to waste minimisation.

The other two MPs, Nicky Wagner, National Associate Spokesperson for Environment and Maryan Street - Labour (standing in for Nanaia Mahuta) gave creditable outlines of their parties' positions on the Bill, commending the ideals but suggesting that some of its measures may not have the desired outcomes and could prove costly - both monetarily and by discouraging smaller operators from continuing to recycle - particularly in rural areas.

Many of those attending had made lengthy submissions to the Select Committee working on the Bill and were assured by Metiria Turei that careful consideration would be made of them. In closing she assured her audience that the Greens don't want to interfere with the Packaging Accord but want to move the country further and faster towards sustainability.

Oral hearings start in February 2007 and the Select Committee will be reporting back in June 2007.

For further information go to:
http://www.packaging.org.nz/policy/policy_waste_minimisation_solids_bill.php

The Council offices will close at midday on the 22nd December and re-open on the 15th January 2007. Council personnel will be checking the answer phone over the Christmas break and will attend to any urgent matters.

The Executive Committee, the Executive Director - Paul Curtis, staff - Deb Statham, Donna Hellens and Roshni Prasad wish you a very Merry Christmas and look forward to catching up with you in 2007.

The Ministry for the Environment-commissioned study into the business feasibility of a national 'Out and About' Recycling Initiative has been released. The study aimed to collect information to help key stakeholders decide how to proceed with a national recycling initiative. The report was presented to key stakeholders and is available on the Ministry's website.

The Minister for the Environment, David Benson-Pope, has announced the winners and commended government agencies at a ceremony for the 2006 Govt3 awards. The aim of the awards is to recognise best practice performance and acknowledge progress made against eight award categories. Details on the Govt3 programme and the recent awards are available on the Ministry's website.

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/sustainable-industry/govt3/awards2006.html

The Ministry for the Environment visited 17 locations around New Zealand between 27 October and 10 November 2006 on the Talk Environment Roadshow. For further information visit:

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/talkenvironment/index.html

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/about/signals/

2006 continues to be a busy year for the local government sector. Since the last edition of According to Packaging, councils have adopted their first Long Term Council Community Plans (LTCCPs). The LTCCP's describe the activities of each council and provide a long-term focus for council decision-making and the future of our communities.

The LTCCPs include a statement of the community's long term goals and priorities, including information about each of the activities provided by the council, the levels of service communities can expect and their contribution towards community outcomes. Community outcomes cover numerous activities communities have identified as important to them. These could be anything from clean water to better waste management.

Packaging and waste issues have, for a number of years, been identified by councils and communities as areas for change and improvement, particularly in the way we operate, as we plan for the future and consider our long term sustainability. There are many issues that must be addressed in individual communities and in all facets of local government.

Therefore it is heartening to see different sectors recognising that they have a part to play in the long-term sustainability of our communities. Local Government New Zealand was heartened by the announcement from Owens-Illinois Glass (OI) in August that a third furnace will be built at their Auckland recycling plant. We believe the new furnace will make a positive difference to the glass recycling capacity of the North Island. (More on this in the Glass Forum report in this issue).

Although this initiative came as good news for glass recycling in general, it certainly has not addressed all of New Zealand's glass problems. Information is not yet available on whether South Island councils and collectors will be able to take advantage of this new furnace, this may depend on whether OI increases the price it pays for glass. It continues to be uneconomical to ship glass North for recycling.

As we have said in the past, there is currently no single solution in sight to end national glass recycling issues, and in fact, packaging issues in general. As a signatory to the New Zealand Packaging Accord, Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) continues to be committed to finding workable solutions to problems surrounding recycling.

The Green Party's Waste Minimisation Bill, currently before the Select Committee, has provided a good platform to consider a number of legislative options to deal with a range of waste issues. In its consultation with councils on the Bill, LGNZ received extensive comments on issues such as waste levies and producer responsibility, two of a number of issues which were addressed in its submission to the Select Committee. LGNZ looks forward to presenting its submission to the select committee in the near future.

The Territorial Authority Forum at the Wasteminz annual conference provided another opportunity for discussion and debate. This was a platform for territorial authority representatives to consider the current issues for local government in waste management, including issues relevant to the Packaging Accord, and discuss some potential solutions.

There is still a long way to go to resolve all the issues associated with packaging and recycling. Industry, recycling operators, and central government all have key roles to play in conjunction with local government in finding long-term solutions to the problem.

For further information about Local Government New Zealand visit www.lgnz.co.nz or see the latest version of the organisation's newsletter at www.lgnz.co.nz/news/lgnews/

It's nearly a year since CANZBAC was launched as the public face of the Steel Can Association of New Zealand - a not-for-profit organisation that comprises local can makers NCI, CANPAC and AMCOR.

As a member of the Packaging Council and signatory to the 2004 Packaging Accord CANZBAC is committed to achieving a 43% steel can recycling rate by 2008.

During its first year, CANZBAC has had one goal - to educate householders, councils and brand owners about the importance of steel can recycling.

One step towards raising awareness was achieved by the launch of the website, www.canzbac.co.nz, which now boasts additional resources for educators and New Zealanders who are interested in learning facts about steel and what happens to steel in the recycling process. It is complete with a selection of colourful photos and downloadable resources. The new, householder's brochure gives tips for general household recycling and the 'Lifecycle of a Steel Can' chart is a resource to give information on what happens during the recycling process.

CANZBAC has made regular contact with Councils nationwide to liaise with them about kerbside recycling and to distribute its quarterly newsletter CANZCHAT.

The organisation has received positive feedback about CANZCHAT - a resource that takes an in-depth look at some of the inspirational and success stories behind recycling.

At Foodtech Packtech CANZBAC issued a call to action for brand owners to use the 'Recyclable Steel' logo on their products.

Complementing this call to action was an extensive mail-out to all the major brand owner companies in New Zealand. The quirky cans contain an information disk on how brand owners can help increase steel can recycling rates by adding the Recyclable Steel logo, an information leaflet and branded sweets to get their attention.

With the support of brand owners, councils and householders, CANZBAC is on track to achieve its ultimate goal - to divert steel from landfill.

Wattie's has shown a strong commitment to steel can recycling by including CANZBAC's steel can recycling message in it's hugely popular Food in a Minute interactive programme more…

The show, hosted by one of New Zealand's most well known culinary stars, Allyson Gofton, has been running for more than 10 years and continues to offer simple and delicious meal solutions featuring a range of products including Wattie's canned and frozen foods.

Allyson has put out the call to recycle used steel food cans and CANZBAC is hoping that with the huge audience watching the programme, this is going to make a real difference to steel can recycling rates.

"Food in a Minute is an institution in New Zealand and we are delighted that Wattie's has come on board to promote the steel can recycling message. With more than 750,000 viewers every week, we're hoping the message will get through to some of those householders who are still putting their cans in the rubbish bin," said Keith Parker, chairman of CANZBAC.

The recycling message will feature on Food in a Minute recipes using canned ingredients and it will also be included on the recipe cards that are produced and distributed through supermarkets.

Jo Davidson, Business Manager for Heinz Wattie's, said the company was pleased to be able to provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the need to recycle steel cans.

"With such a variety of canned foods on offer - from Baked Beans to Simmer sauces - there are 100s of cans used by consumers every week. We want to do our bit by lessening the number of cans ending up in landfills."

There is a lot happening in the Paper sector in regard to Environmental sustainability and the Accord.

The paper sector was very happy to meet and exceeded its Accord target for 2005 of 72%. It was not without hard work and a favourable recycling climate. All NZPPA member companies have embraced the NZPPA Code of Practice and have implemented Action Plans for Environmental sustainability in their companies. This has shown that there is minimal waste to landfill from the paperboard packaging manufacturing process.

NZPPA recently held its bi-annual conference in conjunction with PrintNZ conference at Wairakei. The feature of the conference was a presentation from David Perchard, whose consulting company, Perchards, has been engaged by some 280 companies and trade associations based in 26 countries working for clients in every continent except Antarctica!

David is Europe's foremost expert on recycling policy and has international experience of waste management, particularly the EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive and in issues such as policy options for packaging regulation (Australia and the UK). David shared his views on trends and highlighted pitfalls to be avoided. He is well versed with the draft Waste Minimisation Bill.

David outlined what is happening in the UK/EU, which is, broadly, that once the UK, and the Eastern European bloc have caught up with the recycling rates in the front-running member states, there's no point going further. The Commission thinks that packaging has been "done", and it's time to move on to sustainable production and consumption.

Having done a lot of comparative reviews of how things work in the 25 EU member states, and of how things work in the EU vs. the US or Australia, David's strongest message was that you can't lift policies from one jurisdiction and apply them elsewhere if the infrastructure, culture or economics are different - which they are, invariably.

His experience of product stewardship? "It can work fine if you can't get results any other way, but can be a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

David also met the Minister for the Environment, MfE staff, officials from the Green Party and a Business. The Minister enjoyed the meeting and found it quite useful in exploring new ideas. The NZ Paperboard Packaging Assn, PrintNZ and the NZ Paper Forum felt their sponsorship of David was very worthwhile in raising the awareness of the industry, government officials and business on the key environmental sustainability issues and the current situation in the EU.

At the Conference Dinner Nigel Harrison from Amcor Cartons Australasia and Jack Hayward from PJ Papers each received an award for their efforts in Environmental Sustainability.

NZPPA has just released a booklet called "Making a Difference - Case studies in Environmental Sustainability from the Paper Sector". This booklet outlines a number of the actions that NZPPA members have carried out in their companies on Environmental Sustainability. This is a very interesting booklet, with lots of good ideas in this area.

Copies are available from Ashley Chisholm, PrintNZ.ashley.chisholm@printnz.co.nz

The Forum has held further meetings and has established links with Paper Round, its Australian equivalent. It is also working with NZPPA to develop a process for an enlarged Paper Mass Balance. It is sponsoring a Paper Orientation Tour for MfE staff to see the total paper process from making, printing and recycling. The Forum also made a submission on the Waste Minimisation Bill, which amongst a number of points, strongly advocated against the introduction of the Bill and for the continuance of the Accord and other voluntary systems for waste management.

Ket Bradshaw, Environmental Manager, Plastics NZ hosted a successful seminar on bio plastics at the Waste Management Institute.

With the upcoming use of polylactic acid (PLA), a bio plastic made from dextrose (derived from corn or other biomass), and other biodegradable and degradable plastics in packaging applications such as water bottles and fruit and produce trays, these products will increasingly enter both therecycling and composting systems in New Zealand and Australia.

During the panel discussion the producers and converters of bio plastics talked with the recyclers and composters about the impact of these new materials as they enter the marketplace and how best to cater for the changes that will need to take place. A number of issues were raised such as the requirement for compost to breakdown in 30 days, not 90 days as required by some international standards. An expert composter will conduct trials on PLA.

Plastics NZ thanks the panellists for their contribution:

Plastics NZ has resolved to investigate the development of a NZ Standard, a labeling system and Code of Practice for degradable plastics, and will work with the Packaging Accord, the Australian Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA), RONZ, composters and the Ministry for the Environment. A small group has met twice during the year and will continue to work on developing a framework to assist with the responsible use of degradable and bio based plastics.

Plastics New Zealand, the Packaging Council and the Environmental Beverage Action Group were delighted with the recent news that Auckland City, Manukau City, Rodney District, Papakura District, Thames Coromandel District and Tasman District councils are now collecting number 5 plastics through their collector Streetsmart Ltd and endorsed this through a media release.

At the end of January 2007 all participating companies will be sent the survey. All forms are required to be returned by mid March so results can be tallied, finalised and presented at the May 2007 conference.

REMEMBER - this is a requirement for the plastics industry to complete our commitment under the New Zealand Packaging Accord. Prompt return of your survey forms would be much appreciated.

For further information please contact KELLY BUCHANAN-JOHNS, Membership Services Manager - 09 262 3773 x 103 or Kelly@plastics.org.nz

The Glass Packaging Forum's first General Meeting was held on September 21st 2006. David Carter, Chair presented the background to the Forum's establishment and summarized our first six months of activity.

Guest speaker Tim Denne of analytical consultancy Covec presented the findings of the research commissioned by the Packaging Council and part funded by the Glass Forum into Container Deposit Legislation. Tim outlined why they have taken a more conservative approach to incorporate best practice solutions to container recovery into existing frameworks. In short, even with this approach, the cost of introducing CDL into New Zealand alongside kerbside collections would be in the range of $61 million to $121 million. This report has now been made public.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the steering group to meet with members to outline what's happening in the glass recovery market which is and will continue to be dynamic. The Glass Forum has submitted its response to the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill which is proceeding through the Select Committee stage. As an exemplar of product stewardship, we seek to demonstrate to the Select Committee that a voluntary levy and system is preferable and is working.

Whilst O-I's announcement of a third furnace to come on line end 2007 will increase the demand for glass cullet at that time, we are still struggling to meet our Accord target recovery rate of 55% by 2008. This year despite our best efforts to find new markets for glass and a 5% increase in the amount of glass recovered, the percentage of glass reused over glass consumed has reduced slightly to 49%. A key contributing factor has been the change to co-mingled collections by North Shore and Waitakere City Councils which has reduced the amount of suitable glass cullet available for processing at O-I by 3000 tonnes in the first six months since introduced with some 9000 tonnes currently awaiting resolution.

As more councils move to co-mingled collections, experience to-date tells us that an estimated 30-40% of this glass will not be suitable for use in glass making and it is our job to work with local councils and recycling operators to find alternative uses for this glass or to improve the usability of the glass recovered. The Packaging Council and Glass Packaging Forum met with Mayor Dick Hubbard and Auckland City officials on November 1st and with Auckland City and Manukau officials on November 8th. Both councils have now released a request for tenders for a new state of the art Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) with a closing date of February 2006. O-I's glass specification has been included in the tender documentation and we will continue to work with these councils and others to ensure that the collection and MRF maximise recycling.

Nelson - We met with the Mayor of Nelson Paul Matheson, Councillor Derek Shaw and representatives from Fulton Hogan and Nelmac and approved funding for its trial crushing glass for use in roading. This differs from the Palmerston North trial because Fulton Hogan has elected to crush the glass on its own rather than as a mix with other aggregate. The crushed glass produced in this way is more refined and capable of being used in added value products such as cat's eyes for road beading however the process appears to be more expensive.

Cost benefit analysis - The interim report comparing production procedures for cullet used in aggregate finds that the production costs of the methodologies used by Fulton Hogan and Higgins in Nelson and Palmerston North respectively are broadly similar. The premium for processing aggregate with cullet over conventional mineral aggregate is around $2 per tonne. The premium for a tonne of aggregate with 5% cullet could be as high as $6 or 30% when low cost stone is available.

Zero Waste - We have provided further support in terms of funding meeting costs to ensure progress continues in the Potters Industries work being conducted by a number of South Island recycling operators with the aim of sales of specially prepared clear glass into their Australian manufacturing operation. We are also keeping a watching brief on two year trials for use of glass in golf courses which is being undertaken by Terranova.

Our focus has been establishing contact with local councils particularly those where collection methods are or about to change including Queenstown, Waitakere, Timaru, Auckland City and Manukau. We are working closely with the Ministry for the Environment and the Packaging Council to ensure messages are co-ordinated.

A comprehensive independent media evaluation has been carried out on behalf of the Packaging Accord covering all media coverage relating to the Accord in Year Two. The commentary on glass finds that:

"This was the third most frequently seen message with nine relevant items and some very strong individual scores. Coverage was mainly in local newspapers. The main issue was the growing "glass mountain" as local councils found it uneconomic to transport glass away for recycling."

Our focus and greatest challenge will continue to be finding economically viable alternative uses for glass which is not able to be processed in a closed loop back into new glass containers at O-I.

LITTER ALLIANCE

The principal focus of the Litter Alliance at the moment is the heightened activities of Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB). The recent KNZB Clean up Week was very successful. Participating organisations, which include schools, businesses, local authorities, yacht clubs, scout groups, service clubs, KNZB Programmes and individuals, uplifted 400,000 bags more…

Over 40 Lions Clubs have recently joined KNZB, as have a number of additional businesses. KNZB's Annual Conference was held at the Mecure Hotel, Wellington, 13th to 15th Oct. The new Chairman, elected at the AGM, is Hon Roger McLeay, past Commissioner for Children. Delegates at the conference enjoyed the excellent keynote address by Don Chambers, President of Keep Australia Beautiful and a lively presentation by Greens co-leader, Russell Norman.

http://www.knzb.org.nz

Packaging Council members Coca-Cola Amatil and DB continue to lead the way in outdoor event recycling. Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park will again have full recycling facilities and Sharon Jereb from DB ensured that Ellerslie Flower Show 2006 achieved a 37% decrease in rubbish to landfill, a 13% increase in recyclables collected and a 300% increase in cardboard collected compared to 2005.

As a signatory to the Packaging Accord 2004 and in order to meet its obligations not only to the Accord but to the environment the Blue Bird Foods has incorporated the Packaging Design Code of Practice of 'reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and disposal' into its packaging design practices.

The flexible film used for the packaging of potato chips is a laminate film comprising metalised PP and PP to achieve the required barrier properties. Also these films contain inks, adhesives and solvents. Because this film is non-recyclable, the chips bags end up in landfill, where the solvents and other chemicals can leach into soil and groundwater.

Bluebird Foods has worked with the film suppliers to minimise solvents use in its packaging and now uses solvent-less adhesive. Due to this, savings of more than 13 tons of solvent in potato chip films have been achieved. Of this just under than 1.3 tons is stopped from getting into landfill annually and the rest into the atmosphere.

The UK Government target to recycle and compost 25% of household waste in England by 2005/06 has been exceeded, according to provisional figures published on 12 October this year, by Defra.

They show households in England recycled 27% of their waste during 2005/06, 4% more than in the previous year.

Defra can also confirm that all waste disposal authorities in England have successfully met their limits for the first year of the Landfill Allowances Trading Scheme (LATS) - helping reduce the overall amount of waste sent to landfill.

The more biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) that is diverted from landfill and recycled the quicker the 2010 target to reduce BMW to 11.2m tones, 75% of that produced in 1995 will be met.

More information at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2006/061012a.htm

India is tightening its "liberal" import regime for scrap metal, with a new registration scheme set to begin on April 1, 2007.

From that date, the country will require imports of unshredded metallic scrap to be through registered overseas suppliers, imported through 26 designated ports.

The scheme applies only to ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals, and the Indian government has insisted it is not aiming to reduce the flow of scrap into India or deter "bona fide exporters". The Bureau of International Recycling's Non-Ferrous Metals Round Table in Brussels this week saw Neeraj Kumar Gupta of India's Ministry of Commerce & Industry explaining that the registration scheme was being set up to prevent explosives entering the country within scrap metal.

More information at http://dgft.delhi.nic.in

Sainsbury's is to up the ante in the battle for health-conscious customers in a bid to close the gap between itself and Tesco. Justin King, Sainsbury's chief executive, said he was "intentionally" trying to outpace Tesco in the areas of healthy eating and the environment, which have become the latest battleground in supermarkets' fight for customers' loyalty. Sainsbury's move to use biodegradable "compostable" packaging, announced last week, could be extended to 20% of its products, King said. He is expected to unveil a raft of health and environmental measures in the coming weeks.

Two heavyweights in the New Zealand business community have celebrated one year as a joint force initiative to help push the country towards a more sustainable future.

Shell New Zealand and the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development came together to form the Shell New Zealand Su

The fund is aimed at helping small to medium enterprises (SMEs) develop and implement systems enabling them to operate in a sustainable, environmentally responsible way. The first three of six grants were awarded in August to Futuregenz in Invercargill for an initiative to develop an environmental guideline for business; Trip Convergence Ltd to help trial a traffic congestion reduction programme in Auckland; and Range Industries in Christchurch for a plastic stream re-processing initiative.

Three more grants announced this month are to Wellington Zoo for a system to reduce solid waste; North Shore City Council for its EnviroSmart Programme to improve the environmental performance and resource use efficiency of businesses throughout New Zealand; and City Fibreglass Ltd in Tauranga for a new system to reduce the environmental effect of making car bumpers. The six grants make a total of $120,000 in funding for environmental sustainability this year.

A new Bay of Plenty company launched recently plans to help businesses become more efficient in the areas of transport, energy and waste.

Envirostate Company Director, Calum Revfem, says businesses have the potential to realise immediate cost savings in the range of 20-50% by undertaking a range of low or no cost resource-use initiatives. "With high fuel costs, rising energy prices and the likelihood of waste levies, the time is right for showing businesses how to become more resource efficient."

Annabelle Ellis, Envirostate's waste consultant acknowledges that waste disposal charges in New Zealand are still very low, but that is likely to change in the near future. "Smart companies are realising that waste minimisation is as much about the efficient use of resources as it is about protecting the environment. Anything that ends up in the company skip is a wasted resource that the company has paid for." A typical waste audit will reveal waste reduction opportunities in order of 50-75%. Mr Revfem says an interesting thing happens when companies take a look at their resource use behaviour. There is a realisation that people are the key ingredient and with the right incentives, targets and rewards they can make huge gains - gains that are not only reflected in one-off cost savings, but in shifting attitudes and team-based approaches to continual improvements in the efficient use of resources.

In early November 2006 Wal-Mart announced the online rollout of a "green" rating system for the packaging used by all of its product suppliers, one that will eventually determine who can sell to the world's largest retailer.

About 2,000 private label suppliers to Wal-Mart began imputing data on the packaging they use for their products into the groundbreaking system.

The creation of the packaging rating system is a significant part of the bid by the retailer to become more environmentally-friendly and meet the demands of its customers. Amy Zettlemoyer, director of packaging for the company's Sam's Club network of stores told a packed audience here at PackExpo that other suppliers will have to beginusing the system later next year.

The company's "sustainable scorecard" system is a bid by the retailer to push up to 60,000 of its suppliers worldwide to lower the amount of packaging they use by five per cent, use more renewable materials and slash energy use. Those that make efforts to change their packaging and products towards meeting Wal-Mart's goals will be ranked at the top of the pile among their competitors, making them the preferred supplier.

Those that do not, will face regulation to the lower ends of the ranking and the possible loss of their business with Wal-Mart. Suppliers will move up or down the rank in their product category depending on any changes they make, or that their competitors make ahead of them.

Matt Kistler, Wal-Mart's vice president of package and product innovations, said the move toward sustainable packaging marks a significant change by the retailer away from choosing suppliers solely on price. Wal-Mart is selling the program to the suppliers, who will have no option but to comply, by citing costs savings. The giant retailer said it will save $3.4bn a year in costs if five per cent of packaging is cut out of the system.

A separate scorecard ranking system for packagers was also unveiled yesterday. Packagers will input their data and move up or down the ranking in a similar manner to the rating system for Wal-Mart's suppliers. The online system will then direct suppliers toward the top rated packagers who can help them meet Wal-Mart's targets. Suppliers can take a peak at the beta version of the online scorecard system for their products at www.scorecardlibrary.com. Packagers can test out the system built for them at www.marketgate.com/packaging.

The programme to cut five per cent out of its suppliers' packaging materials will stop millions of pounds of trash from reaching landfills and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere by 667,000 metric tons, Wal-Mart calculates.

"This is equal to taking 213,000 trucks off the road annually, and saving 323,800 tons of coal and 66.7 million gallons of diesel fuel from being burned," the retailer claimed earlier this year in outlining the programme. "This initiative will also create $10.98 billion in savings, just from a 5 percent reduction in 10 percent of the global packaging industry."

Source: Food Production Daily November 2006