Glass Sector agrees voluntary recycling levy

Media Release 26 May 2005

Glass Sector agrees voluntary glass levy to keep recycling on track to reach Packaging Accord targets

Tony Nowell, Chair of The Packaging Accord 2004 Governing Board said today he is delighted that many of the brand owners and producers using glass packaging have agreed to a voluntary glass levy on imported glass which will help support the cost of recovering glass around New Zealand.

The majority of those involved have agreed that a levy be applied for the next 6 months to fund the gap between what recycling operators will be paid for collecting clear glass which represents around 25% of the 95k tonnes of glass recovered in New Zealand last year. During this period more work will be done to find a long term solution.

The levy proposal has been accepted by Packaging Accord members: ACI Glass, Sutton Group, Coca Cola Amatil, Lion Nathan, Foodstuffs, Progressive Enterprises, Frucor Beverages, Fosters Group, Endeavour Glass and DB Breweries. This group represents a significant majority of the glass packaging industry.

Nowell said that: “This is a first and important step by our industry to recognize that we all have a responsibility to manage the environmental impacts of the products which we make and sell. It demonstrates companies working with each other to help find a solution to a very complex problem and to acknowledge efforts made by local councils, recycling operators and households to keep our country clean and green.”

The next step is to present this proposal to Local Government and the recycling operators to work through the detail with those who are instrumental in delivering our glass recovery service.

The Packaging Accord will continue to work with industry to find a sustainable long term solution to this issue and to bring all parties into such an agreement.

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