40675 (2025). Hon Rachel Brooking to the Minister for the Environment

40675 (2025). Hon Rachel Brooking to the Minister for the Environment: What specific policies, if any, has she implemented domestically that align with New Zealand’s advocacy for a treaty grounded in waste hierarchy principles at the international treaty on plastic pollution negotiations in Geneva?

Hon Penny Simmonds: Plastics phase outs: I am currently considering advice on the proposed third tranche of plastics phase outs which, if progressed, would phase out food and beverage packaging made from Polyvinyl Chloride or rigid polystyrene not covered by the previous phase outs. Proposed amendments to waste legislation: The Ministry for the Environment has recently consulted on proposals to amend the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 (WMA) and Litter Act 1979 to create more fit-for-purpose waste legislation that gives more options and flexibility to reduce and manage waste. The changes include amending the product stewardship provisions in the WMA to replace them with an extended producer responsibility framework.