3R provide practical and innovative advice and service solutions for industry and government to help meet growing demand for more sustainable business practices.
Waste Bill first step to zero-waste NZ
The Green Party welcomes the passing of the Waste Minimisation Bill into law and calls on Ministers, businesses and the community to use the tools it provides to achieve a zero-waste New Zealand.
"Seeing this important bill passed has been a long journey for the Green Party. It has been more than two years since it was drawn from ballot, and our MPs have worked with three Environment Ministers in that time," Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman says.
"However, this bill is just the first step on a journey to becoming a waste free and sustainable nation. For this new law to be effective, it requires Ministers who will act boldly to implement it.
"The Green Party will continue to work toward achieving a zero-waste vision through improving regulations, and working with businesses and the community to raise awareness and support initiatives to minimise waste," Dr Norman says.
"The Green Party worked cooperatively with all parties in Parliament and hence we were disappointed that the National Party moved a late amendment that would have seriously undermined the Bill.
"National MP Nicky Wagner's last minute amendment at Committee Stages to alter the definition of 'waste' to exclude recovered materials was the most concerning, as it would have gutted the whole Bill. Nothing is more fundamental to a Waste Minimisation Bill than the definition of 'waste'!
"While the Greens acknowledged the concerns of the scrap-metal dealers, this amendment was not the solution.
"To save the Bill, we negotiated a compromise amendment that would address specific concerns, while protecting the rest of the Bill from fatal damage. As a consequence Local Government will have reduced powers under the bill, but we hope that the Ministry for the Environment will work with local Government to fill these gaps where appropriate."
Thursday, 11 September 2008, 5:33 pm Press Release: Green Party
Founded in 1975, LeaderBrand is recognised as one of New Zealand’s largest and most diversified horticultural and fresh food businesses.
With farms located in Gisborne and Canterbury, LeaderBrand is the largest grower, packer, and shipper of buttercup squash (Kabocha) in the world, and the largest grower, packer, and shipper of broccoli, lettuce and fresh sweetcorn in New Zealand. They are also one of the largest growers of 'Gisborne Chardonnay' and Pinot Gris grapes.
“The highly discerning Japanese market is a large scale export customer and the protocols they require are applied to all LeaderBrand produce,” explains the company’s Annual Crop Manager Richard Burke (pictured).
“We’re certified with NZGAP and have a certified HACCP-based food safety programme. We also conduct regular random residue tests and only use certified non-GMO seed stocks.”
Customers can trace the origin of a delivery directly to the paddock it was grown in, and view online documentation relating to the planting, crop management and harvesting of the produce in that paddock, plus subsequent storage, packing and shipping to the customer.
“We grow over 3,000ha of fresh produce every year, so we’re probably the largest single user of agrichemicals in the country,” says Richard.
And when it comes to recycling their plastic containers, Richard supports Agrecovery all the way.
Agrecovery Rural Recycling and Westland Milk Products are working together to achieve the co-operative's aim of ensuring the West Coast leads the New Zealand dairy industry in sustainable rural recycling initiatives.
Chris Pullen, Environmental Manager for Westland Milk Products says “We want to ensure that the West Coast dairy industry is highly regarded for its contribution to environmental sustainability.
“With Agrecovery’s help we can promote international best practice and protect New Zealand’s reputation for sustainable agribusiness practice right here on the West Coast.”
The collection of unwanted agrichemicals this year is set to be stronger than 2010's record of nearly 10 tonnes collected through the nationwide Agrecovery Chemicals Programme.
Otago topped the seven regional collections in 2010 with 1921 kilograms collected.
According to Debbie Sherwood, coordinator for the Agrecovery Chemicals programme, booking volumes have been equally strong in 2011, showing chemicals are still a problem on many properties.
“We have completed three collections so far this year, with a record 2060 kg collected in Canterbury. Four other regional collections are in the planning stages, including the Otago/Southland collection where bookings close on 2nd September.”
National leaders in product stewardship development 3R Group has added another accolade to its impressive CV with a paint recycling programme under its management gaining Product Stewardship accreditation.
3R manages the PaintWise paint and packaging take-back scheme on behalf of Resene.
Resene PaintWise is one of six programmes to secure Ministry of Environment (MfE) accreditation to date.
3R Group Executive Director Graeme Norton said the company was thrilled the Resene PaintWise programme joins another programme the company has developed, Agrecovery Rural Recycling, in receiving accreditation.
