Glass For Good
How the proposed EPR scheme would work
The Glass Packaging Forum commissioned Grant Thornton to design a product stewardship scheme, also known as an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme that would create the best outcomes for container glass.
We believe the report is a valuable contribution to the conversation on improving Aotearoa New Zealand’s glass recovery and recycling rates and reducing emissions.
View our submission to the Transforming Recycling consultation
The scheme design at a glance
- Fully funded by fees paid by the glass packaging industry
- Includes all container glass – from beer and wine bottles, to jam and pasta sauce jars
- Generates less than half of the emissions from glass than either the status quo or a CRS
- Boosts glass recovery to 90% and recycling rate to 87% within five years
- Impact on the cost of a 12 pack of beer would be less than half of the proposed CRS (based on average beer bottle weight, see the full report for details)
- Makes use of and enhances the country’s already extensive kerbside recycling network, as well as the community recycling network and drop off points, using an optimised hub and spoke model that will address current logistics challenges
- Resolves contamination issues that prevent more glass from being recycled
- Encourages more uptake of refillables due to its fee structure
- Would be operated by a not for profit product stewardship organisation