Open letter from The GetReal team and supporters

Dear Hon. Dr Smith,

We want your Government to get serious about reducing waste.

Having only three products on the priority products list makes a mockery of the Waste Minimisation Bill 2008 provisions. Along with the support of all the GetReal members who have co-signed this open letter, we are calling for you to put packaging back on the priority products list. Packaging is a perfect example of a waste problem that could be solved by effective product stewardship.

Your own policy acknowledges the value of stronger national leadership and the right incentives for businesses and communities in reducing waste. While in opposition National supported the passage of the Waste Minimisation Bill through the house to become law.

The move 'towards zero waste and a sustainable New Zealand' embodied in the NZ Waste Strategy is even more relevant seven years on and we urge you, as the Minister with special responsibility for our environment, to act in line with your own policy and the waste strategy, and to implement the Act in the spirit in which it was intended.

The National Party, and you in particular, have come out in support of economic instruments as a means of sending clear signals to producers and consumers. All of the costs of products need to be included in the purchase price so that consumers can make wise purchasing decisions.

Product stewardship is a useful tool with the potential to carry us towards the vision outlined in the NZ Waste Strategy. For it to be effective all the parties in the chain need to take responsibility for playing their part. We cannot do this on our own.

We urge you to show that you are serious about waste reduction by making the decision to put packaging back on the priority products list.


Yours sincerely,


The GetReal campaign team, partner organisations, and more than 1,000 individual supporters

Community Recycling Network Aotearoa/New Zealand - www.communityrecyclers.org.nz

(including Arohena recycling group , Wastebusters Trust Canterbury (Ashburton), Wanaka Wastebusters, Waihemo Wastebusters Inc, Mana Community Enterprises Inc (Porirua), Central Otago Wastebusters Inc (Alexandra), EERST; Environmental Education for Resource Sustainability Trust, Community Business & Environment Centre, Clean Stream Northland , Southland Community Wastebusters Trust, Remarkable Recyclers)

Zero Waste New Zealand Trust - http://www.zerowaste.co.nz/

Sustainable Otautahi / Christchurch - http://www.sustainablechristchurch.org.nz/home/

Sustainable Wanaka - http://www.sustainablewanaka.co.nz/

Sustainable Dunedin City - http://www.sustainabledunedincity.org.nz/

Students for Environmental Action – Otago University (Dunedin)

Dunedin Secondary Student Climate Forum - http://www.sustainabledunedincity.org.nz/?page_id=61

Campus Greens – University of Canterbury (Christchurch)

Kakariki Environment club - University of Canterbury www.sustain.canterbury.ac.nz/kakariki/

Smart Bottles (Dunedin) - http://www.smartbottles.com/

TBL Solutions Ltd, Environmental Consultants (Palmerston North) - http://www.tblsolutions.co.nz/

No Plastic Bags in New Zealand - http://www.noplasticbags.org.nz/

Green Teens (Nelson) - http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/opinion/2398475/Nelsons-youth-give-cause-for-optimism

"BAGS NOT plastic bags" - West Harbour (Dunedin)

Kiwi Plastic Bag Concern - http://plasticshoppingbagfree.org.nz/nz-news/kiwi-plasticbag-concern-research

Sustain - Ed    - Christchurch http://www.sustain-ed.biz/

Zero Waste Education - http://www.zerowasteeducation.co.nz/