Wagner Nicky: Waste Minimisation Bill — In Committee 
Wagner Nicky: Waste Minimisation Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:650;Page:18714] 
NICKY WAGNER (National) 
: 
 As the Committee knows after lengthy debate and a series of successful Supplementary Order Papers National supports this bill. But we are concerned that the title does not go far enough in signalling an important change to the way that people organisations and businesses think about waste. The title the Waste Minimisation Bill states what the bill does. It focuses on waste minimisation which is admirable. But National would prefer to see a similar emphasis on resource recovery so that the Act would become the “Waste Minimisation and Resource Recovery Act”. I seek the support of all parties for my Supplementary Order Paper 217 which adds “and Resource Recovery” to the title and I think we will get that support. 
Most people believe that we have to move beyond just waste minimisation; we have to understand the importance of recovering all resources from the waste stream. Indeed Steve Chadwick herself who was the chair of the select committee that looked at the Waste Minimisation Bill for most of that time spoke about wanting a name change during earlier debate on the bill and Nandor Tanczos who of course was the original proposer of the bill was very supportive of a change. It will be only when the public realise and understand the value of the waste stream that they will fully focus on the recovery of all resources. It is only when they understand the value of the waste stream that we will have sustainable businesses mining those resources. 
During the select committee process MPs visited waste management waste recycling waste recovery and special treatment plants. We were really impressed with the innovation and entrepreneurial skills that were being used to deal with the problems of waste. There were lots of new ideas there were lots of new methods and new processes and new ideas were being implemented everywhere we went. Some of our waste was actually being processed and exported overseas—something that had actually come from the waste stream was becoming very profitable and was adding to our export drive. Just today I had a phone call from a business that was increasing its focus on recycling and was doing very well. The owner was keen to tell me that similar businesses in his area were struggling but the shift in his business to increased recycling was underpinning the success of that business. When we have organisations and businesses that are seeing recycling and the recovery of resources as a means of running their businesses successfully that is when we will be very happy. 
It is hard to believe that a country that is so small and so far away from others has organisations that are innovative enough and that are lean mean and efficient enough to be able to export resources that would normally have gone into the tip in the past. In saying that National is very conscious that this bill cannot be allowed to add costs to these pioneer recycling businesses because for these businesses to be sustainable they must be able to operate as cheaply and efficiently as possible. It is really important that they can continue to get those markets overseas and that their businesses can be profitable because without profit those businesses will not be sustainable. National is also keen to highlight the success of these businesses and to focus on the value that can be derived from processing waste effectively. 
If we really want to create long-term successful waste minimisation we need New Zealanders to make a shift in their thinking. They have to shift their thinking from simply minimising waste—although of course that is very important—to looking at waste and to actively recovering as much as possible. I think that shift in thinking would be helped by changing the name of the bill from the Waste Minimisation Bill to the “Waste Minimisation and Resource Recovery Bill”. Once again I seek support of all parties for my Supplementary Order Paper 217 to rename this very good—now that it has been thoroughly thrashed over—bill. Thank you. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Marian Hobbs) 
: I call John Cla—oh I nearly called you John Clark—John Carter.