Government announces new waste and resource efficiency strategy and work programme

The Government has adopted a new strategy to reduce waste and improve how it’s managed in New Zealand.

The New Zealand waste and resource efficiency strategy presents the Government’s priorities for minimising waste and improving waste management. It replaces Te Rautaki Para | New Zealand waste strategy adopted by the previous Government in March 2023.

The new strategy aims to achieve the following outcomes:  

• reduction of waste disposal per person  

• increasing reuse and recycling of materials and products 

• minimising emissions and environmental harm from waste and litter 

• ensuring resource recovery and disposal facilities are managed to minimise their environmental impacts

• limiting the environmental harm caused by contaminated sites including legacy sites.