Colin Ambler/cvnznews.com
Zero Waste Aotearoa says the Government has “dropped the ball” on waste reform, after confirming long‑promised updates to the Waste Minimisation Act and Litter Act will not be introduced this parliamentary term — despite years of consultation, drafting, and sector engagement. The organisation says stakeholders have now been told that no further work is progressing, leaving New Zealand’s waste legislation frozen in place.
The stalled reforms were intended to modernise the country’s waste laws, giving households and businesses clearer pathways to reduce waste, cut emissions, and shift away from what advocates describe as a “throwaway economy.”
Sue Coutts, Director of External Affairs for Zero Waste Aotearoa, says the Government’s decision signals a lack of commitment to environmental responsibility.
“Protecting our environment and using resources efficiently are apparently not priorities for the government,” she said. “New Zealanders want better recycling systems. They want alternatives to disposal. They want to make the shift away from this throwaway economy.”
Coutts points to the 2026 Kantar Better Futures Report, which found strong public expectations for government, business, and brands to reduce environmental impacts. She says the waste sector has already done the groundwork — with two rounds of public consultation and detailed proposals ready to go — but political delays have repeatedly stalled progress.
“Time and time again we’re told the law will be updated. The government is stringing New Zealanders along,” she said.
The organisation also criticised repeated delays to phasing out PVC and polystyrene food and beverage packaging, saying policy flip‑flops between governments have undermined investment and slowed the rollout of reusable and recyclable packaging systems.
“Companies have already pulled back from commitments because the systems that would make them possible aren’t in place,” Coutts said.
Zero Waste Aotearoa is now calling on all political parties to make updating the Waste Minimisation Act an early priority in the next government, arguing that only legislative certainty will allow New Zealand to finally make meaningful progress on reducing waste.
