Government's soft plastics recycling scheme won't save our oceans from pollution

The Government’s soft plastics recycling scheme, announced today, won’t address the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans as effectively as a charge on single-use plastic bags, the Green Party said.

“This is a token measure from a government that’s more interested in ‘green wash’ than saving our oceans and marine life,” said Green Party waste spokesperson Denise Roche.

“We launched a Member’s Bill this week to introduce a charge on single-use plastic bags in order to reduce pollution and fund clean-up and waste minimisation education.

“We asked the National Government yesterday if they would support our Bill, but they wrote it off claiming that plastic bags account for little of our waste. Today, they are patting themselves on the back for introducing a scheme that looks good on paper, but will do little to solve the problem.

“Putting a charge on single-use plastic bags has been shown around the world to reduce plastic bag usage and waste. In the UK, there was an 85 percent drop in plastic bag usage in the first six months, and £30 million was raised to go to charities dealing with waste clean ups.

“New Zealanders use 1.6 billion plastic bags every year. That equates to somewhere between 160,000 – 180,000 barrels of oil per year and only one to two percent of those actually make it to the recycling bins. The rest end up in landfill or escape and cause havoc in the marine environment. 

“The Government needs to take the issue seriously by supporting my Member’s Bill, and introduce a charge on single use plastic bags,” said Ms Roche. 

Latest Environment Announcements

Story

Forestry sector must compensate for slash damage

The Green Party welcomes today’s release of the report of the Ministerial Inquiry into slash and sediment, and are clear that the forestry industry...
Read More

Story

Greens launch petition to protect conservation lands from mining by Mineralogy International Limited

The Green Party has today launched a petition calling for conservation land to be protected from mining by big overseas companies such as Mineralog...
Read More

Story

National's drought of ideas won't help farmers facing climate change

Christopher Luxon and the National Party have once again presented another lazy, back-of-the-napkin policy to Aotearoa.
Read More

Story

Freshwater crisis needs stronger government action

New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and freshwater are in crisis and there needs to be a more ambitious Government plan to clean them up and protect agains...
Read More

Story

Greens welcome waste strategy release and work

The Green Party is today welcoming the release of the Government’s waste strategy, but says it has a big gap without action on the container return...
Read More

Story

NZ needs strong protection against water privatisation

New Zealanders deserve strong protection against the future privatisation of water assets, the Green Party says.
Read More

Latest Waste Announcements

Story

Greens welcome waste strategy release and work

The Green Party is today welcoming the release of the Government’s waste strategy, but says it has a big gap without action on the container return...
Read More

Story

Container return scheme will benefit recycling and the oceans

The work Green Ministers did last term is continuing to make a difference, with the announcement today that the Government is planning to introduce...
Read More

Story

Waste strategy needs to learn from nature

Anything less than a transformational national waste strategy and waste legislation will not be enough, the Green Party said today.
Read More

Story

Greens welcome progress on hard to recycle and single use plastics, but more needs to be done

The Green Party welcomes progress on the phase-out of some hard to recycle plastics and some single-use plastics, but says more must be done.
Read More

Story

More action on waste – Government funds recycling infrastructure, moves to standardise kerbside collections

$36.7m Government investment in high-tech recycling plants nationwide Plan to standardise and improve the nation’s kerbside collections As part o...
Read More

Story

New rules for the outdoor storage of tyres

The Government is introducing environmental standards for tyres stored outdoors announced Associate Minister for the Environment, Eugenie Sage. “A ...
Read More