Tough waste stand sought

Environment Commissioner Morgan Williams yesterday accused the Government of failing to research and develop "economic" ways to control the generation and disposal of waste.

Instead of investigating methods such as mandatory deposits on bottles and other drink containers, or requiring deposits when a vehicle was imported to ensure proper disposal, the Ministry for the Environment had relied on voluntary measures, Dr Williams said in a report.

He called for closer scrutiny of the Government's preference for using voluntary measures to manage contentious resource management and environmental issues.

"The weight of evidence suggests that where a significant shift in public behaviour is needed, voluntary measures are not enough," he said in the report, Changing Behaviour, tabled in Parliament yesterday.

He said other behaviour - ranging from drinking and smoking to driving and dog control - were tackled with a mix of regulation and instruments such as taxes, levies and credits.

- NZPA