Recycling waste responsibility

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 559, 25 October 1994, Page 4

Recycling waste responsibility

• For too long manufacturers and retailers have increased unwanted refuse on to the ratepayer funded disposal system. Packaging including cardboard plastic iron, paper are expensive to dispose of and difficult to recycle. Manufacturers do little to limit waste and fail to contribute funding towards the end use. Supermarkets are insisting on convenient packaging regardless of the impact to the local authorities disposal system and the environment. Recycling waste products is expensive and often uneconomic. The Ruapehu District Council at its last meeting resolved to petition other local authorities throughout New Zealand to impose a levy system on manufac-

turers to assist in the disposal of waste products. This action should encourage manufacturers to reduce the waste stream and look at alternative packaging. Central Government have not addressed this issue seriously nor taken responsibility to see that wastes are reduced. Unless the people stand up and say enough is enough nothing will be achieved. The Ruapehu District Councils waste reduction and recycling works party

see the need to join forces with other local authorities to encourage the minister of environment to address the whole issue of waste disposal. The Council' s petition, if supported, should be presented to the Minister together with a documented case, or strategy, that sees fairness in responsibility of waste disposal.

Weston

Kirton

Ruapehu Waste Reduction and Recycling Working Party