Wednesday 19 May 2010,David Carter, Chair of the Glass Packaging Forum receives accreditation from
the Hon. Dr Nick Smith, Ministry for the Environment.
The Forum's accredited scheme is the second product stewardship scheme for any product or industry to be accredited under the Act.See press releases.
The Glass Forum's two new publications, Product Stewardship Manual and Glass Technical Guide were
presented to the Minister by David Carter.
 
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Both publications are available to Glass Packaging Forum members.
Please contact Donna Hellens donna.glassforum@xtra.co.nz
Glass recycling scheme gets government accreditation
Ministry for the Environment
Glass Packaging Forum
Legislative Framework : The Waste Minimisation Act 2008
The Legislation - background
Product Stewardship - definition
Glass Packaging Product Stewardship
Why have a Glass Packaging Scheme?
Glass Scheme
Funding
Constitution
Duration
Glass Lifecycle
Scheme Objectives
Scheme Manager
Annual Reporting
Glass Packaging Forum 2011 report
Glass Packaging Forum 2010 report
Product Stewardship Manual - MEMBERS ONLY
Product Stewardship overview from Tony Nowell
The Waste Minimisation Act 2008 1 provides a regulatory framework for the establishment of product stewardship for key products. Most product stewardship schemes will be voluntary but mandatory schemes could be required where there is "significant advantage in having a product stewardship scheme, but this is either unlikely to be developed, or an existing voluntary scheme is not effective."2
Product stewardship moves responsibility for waste to those involved in the production and supply of the product (and its packaging) and indirectly to the consumer by ensuring the costs of its disposal are reflected in the purchase price. It involves those who know the most about the product - the businesses who make and sell it- in designing the solution.
1 The Waste Minimisation Act 2008
2 Waste Minimisation in New Zealand : A discussion document from the Ministry for the Environment
The Glass Packaging Forum was established to provide protection for its members from legislation by demonstrating that its voluntary activities are sufficient to negate the need for government intervention.
In the last Government survey measuring waste to landfill, the proportion of glass waste had increased from 2 percent to 4 percent by weight. Whilst this incorporates all glass products not just glass packaging, it reflects increased consumption patterns for glass containers.
A voluntary glass packaging product stewardship scheme will best protect the interests of members in the face of continued calls on government for mandatory product stewardship schemes or the introduction of container deposit legislation which have been enabled through the legislation.
The Glass Packaging Forum's scheme builds on the ongoing work of the Forum which was established as a voluntary product stewardship organization under the Packaging Accord.
The scheme collects levies from companies that make or import glass containers, fill glass containers or sell glass containers in New Zealand. The levies raised are used to fund projects, research, infrastructure and educational programmes to increase the recycling and re-use of glass into either new glass containers or for alternative uses leading to a reduction in waste container glass to landfill.
The scheme also provides annual data on the mass balance of glass recovered and recycled as a percentage of that consumed in New Zealand.
The scheme currently covers over 80% of the glass on the market in New Zealand primarily for food and beverages and includes the major manufacturer of glass containers, brand owners and retailers. The remaining companies and those outside the food and grocery sector using a significant volume of glass packaging will be approached about participation.
The scheme does not include:
And is applied at each stage of the packaging cycle i.e. (a) container manufacture (b) container filling (c) containers sales. Each participating company pays a levy based on the weight of glass which they use in product or which they sell to customers.
The levy is used to fund objectives which deliver and improve glass recovery consistent with the glass recycling hierarchy as defined in the diagram above Hierarchy of Glass Recycling.
Members of the Forum have all signed written declarations confirming their commitment to the Glass Packaging Forum Constitution and automatically become members of the scheme.
Each member company has been listed in the application form to the Ministry for the Environment.
Representatives from local government, recyclers and community groups are represented in an expert advisory group to the Forum's steering group to ensure that decisions with regard to funding and direction are also influenced by community recycling groups, recyclers and local government.
Under the legislation the maximum duration for a scheme is seven years. The scheme will therefore end in 2017 assuming that it meets its annual objectives and report these to the satisfaction of the Minister.
Members of the scheme include those in categories 1-3 and some in category 4.
The scheme covers:
A fundamental requirement of any scheme is that it can only include objectives over which it has direct control.
Most of the requirements of the scheme will be administered by the Scheme Manager. Members already report their glass consumption as part of their membership of the Glass Packaging Forum. The Scheme Manager will work with members to enable additional reporting requirements.
The Scheme Manager must provide an annual report to the Minister detailing progress against the scheme objectives.
Further detail on auditing and reporting can be obtained from the Product Stewardship Manual.
The information above is an overview of what is required within the scheme. A comprehensive Product Stewardship Manual has been prepared and is available to Glass Packaging Forum Members only.
If you would like additional information, please contact Donna Hellens.
If you would like additional information, please contact Donna Hellens.
If you would like additional information, please contact Donna Hellens.
Click here to download a Product Stewardship overview from Tony Nowell, Chair of the Accord Governing Board.
The Product Stewardship Logo & Code of Use is available for use by
Glass Packaging Forum Members Only.
Please contact
Donna Hellens donna.glassforum@xtra.co.nz to uplift.
