The Waste Management Challenges in New Zealand

New Zealand, known for its stunning landscapes but faces a growing waste management challenge. While waste to energy incineration may seem like an attractive solution at first glance, it is essential to critically examine whether it is the right approach for our unique island nation. When we think of waste incineration often it is portrayed as a magic solution, and many people get trapped into the idea of waste just ‘disappearing.’ In this blog post, we will explore why waste incineration won't work in New Zealand and discuss alternative methods that align better with our country's environmental goals.

What is waste to energy incineration? 

Waste to energy incineration is an industrial process which waste is burnt in a furnace to produce heat. The heat is then used to create steam which drives a generator to produce electricity. Many types of waste can be incinerated but the one of most concern is mixed municipal waste. 

1. Environmental Impact

Waste incineration releases harmful pollutants into the air, including greenhouse gases, heavy metals, and dioxins. These pollutants can have serious consequences for air quality, human health, and the unique ecosystems we have here. Burning of waste produces chemicals called furans (a type of dioxin) which are known to cause cancer, along with heavy metals such as cadminuim and mercury. 

Pollutants can also escape smoke filters and settle on surrounding land. Once these pollutants start to accumulate they become incredibly dangerous for human health and animals. Once ingested by animals meat and dairy will become contaminated. Waterway pollution is also of concern here. Once wash off contaminates waterways, fresh and marine species are at risk and pollutants can be passed through them to humans if we choose to ingest it. 

The country's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving its unique biodiversity makes waste incineration a problematic choice. 

2. Opposition from Local Communities

Waste incineration facilities are not welcomed with open arms by local communities. New Zealanders take pride in their clean, green image and are understandably concerned about the potential health hazards and environmental damage associated with incineration. Opposition from residents could lead to lengthy legal battles and social conflicts, further complicating the implementation of waste incineration. Recently we saw the incinerator proposal in Fielding overturned due to the incredible work of locals, zero waste community groups and Iwi. 

3. Limited Waste Generation + limited electricity generation

Because of New Zealands low population we do not generate enough waste to feed the incinerators. Over time this could put us at risk for importing other countries waste to feed the incinerators but at the detriment of our environment.

Incineration companies will argue the waste they burn would otherwise be sent to landfill but often neglect to inform that burning of waste is a highly inefficient way to produce electricity. Kilogram to kilogram burning waste can produce as little as 10% of the energy that coal can, and 7% of what natural gas would produce. With renewable energy as a resource in New Zealand and options of that to increase leading up to 2035 it seems counter intuitive for waste to burnt. 

4. Potential Harm to Recycling Efforts

Waste incineration could potentially divert resources away from recycling initiatives. Whilst I’m not a fan of the idea of recycling or the way it has been handled in New Zealand, I can understand it has its place sometimes. New Zealand has been making strides in promoting and looking at ways to invest in infrastructure to support recycling. Investing in incineration may discourage individuals and businesses from reducing, reusing, and recycling their waste and local governments may eventually find it easier to use incienerators as well due to lower costs. 

5. Lost Opportunities for Resource Recovery

Incinerating waste means that valuable resources, such as metals, plastics, and organic materials, are lost forever. New Zealand has the potential to adopt a circular economy approach, where resources are reused and recycled, creating economic opportunities and reducing the strain on natural resources.

6. Shift Towards Sustainable Alternatives

Rather than resorting to waste incineration, New Zealand can explore a range of sustainable alternatives. These may include:

1. Investing in resource recovery and more low waste shopping opportunities for communities.

2. Investing in innovative solutions like anaerobic digestion for organic waste.

3. Encouraging producers to design products with reusability in mind.

Conclusion

While waste incineration may work in some contexts, it is not a suitable solution for New Zealand. The country's commitment to environmental preservation, limited waste generation, and the potential harm to more sustainable options for waste make incineration an impractical choice.

We hope you enjoyed this journal post. Feel free to send through any questions you may have.

Lots of love

Annie / @ethicallyso