By ANNE BESTON and FRANCESCA MOLD
Babies wearing nappies have been chosen to publicise a new Government waste-reduction plan because they represent the future, not because their disposable nappies contribute to the rubbish problem, says Environment Minister Marian Hobbs.
Forty babies wearing nappies and T-shirts promoting zero waste surrounded Ms Hobbs
at yesterday's launch of the strategy at Parliament.
She and Basil Morrison, president of the lobby group Local Government New Zealand, posed for news photographers and cameramen while parents pursued some of the errant infants or tried to stop them crying.
Reporters were asked to wear bright orange badges identifying them as media representatives for "security reasons" because, officials said, they wanted to make sure none of the infants went missing.
The waste-reduction strategy contains tough new targets for local authorities and business but the Ministry for the Environment said they were "goal statements" rather than mandatory requirements.
It wants all substandard landfills closed by December 2010 and 95 per cent of New Zealanders to have access to recycling facilities by 2005.
Another target is for councils to know by next year exactly what it cost to dispose of waste. The ministry says that without the information, they tend to pass the bill on to ratepayers.
"It is no longer acceptable to simply dump waste out of sight or flush it into our environment," said Ms Hobbs.
"The strategy has moved away from a focus on 'end of pipe' solutions to focus on ways to prevent waste being generated."
The strategy wanted all councils and territorial authorities to review their waste programmes over the next three years.
She said the ministry was working with local authorities to develop a long-term public education and information programme to help change the way people thought about waste.
"We all have a role to play in reducing our waste. Our individual efforts, whether it be through composting, recycling or just thinking about what we buy, have a huge impact on protecting our environment for future generations."
The ministry said 3.4 million tonnes of solid waste goes to landfills every year - nearly a tonne a year for each New Zealander.
The strategy will be implemented through councils. A publicity campaign starts in Auckland next month.
nzherald.co.nz/environment
