Decription:

This book is about examining the life cycle of products and the development of waste minimisation programmes that will make progress towards the goal of achieving optimal ‘resource stewardship’. It is the main outcome from the Centre for Advanced Engineering (CAE) Resource Stewardship: Waste Minimisation project, which commenced in 2001 and arose out of a need to re-write the section “Waste Minimisation Practices”, originally included as Part 2 in Our Waste: Our Responsibility, published by CAE in 1992.

The goal of the CAE RS:WM project is to advance environmental sustainability in NZ by sharing knowledge, experience and tools to improve waste minimisation practices and raise the level of resource stewardship. A strong motivation is the need to ensure that waste management practitioners have access to the latest information.

The need for information is consistent with The New Zealand Waste Strategy (MfE/LGNZ, 2002). This document, prepared by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and released in March 2002, with its inclusive approach to both wastes and waste management options, has signalled that there is now widespread recognition of the need for a comprehensive, integrated approach to material and resource efficiency at every stage of production and consumption.

Significant benefits lie in encouraging people to consider the comparative advantages of avoiding and minimising the generation of waste in the first place. This is considered a significant issue for New Zealand. The ability to use resources in the most efficient and sustainable manner lies at the very root of the problem, but also provides a large part of the solution.

The CAE project and this publication have provided a unique opportunity to critically reflect on achievements to date and to learn from past experience. The book is divided into three parts.

• Part One provides an overview of resource stewardship and the political context and regulatory framework for waste minimisation, as well as the activities of NGOs and lessons that can be learned;
• Part Two presents the results of work carried out by seven industry-based task groups to provide an insight into the status of waste minimisation and resource stewardship within each sector; and
• Part Three considers the information presented in the industry sector chapters within the context of waste generation in NZ, and includes recommendations on what needs to occur for NZ to make real progress towards resource stewardship.

This book aims to enhance readers’ knowledge of resource stewardship and the role of waste minimisation, and provide decision-makers and practitioners with insights that will help them to change their thinking from waste minimisation to resource stewardship.