Scale, impact and sources of plastic pollution in New Zealand. Local Government New Zealand s submission to the Environment Select Committee

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1 Scale, impact and sources of plastic pollution in New Zealand Local Government New Zealand s submission to the Environment Select Committee 23 May 2018

2 We are. LGNZ. LGNZ is the national organisation of local authorities in New Zealand, representing all 78 councils. As the national body we promote the national interests of councils, lead best practice in the local government sector and advocate for policy and legislative change. LGNZ also provides business support, advice and training to our members to assist them to build successful communities throughout New Zealand. Our purpose is summed up in our Vision - local democracy powering community and national success. Introduction LGNZ is pleased to respond to the Environment Committee s request for a written submission on the scale, impact and sources of plastic pollution in New Zealand. Specifically LGNZ understands the Committee is interested in: How much plastic pollution there is in New Zealand coastal waters; Where the plastic comes from and what it is made of; The effect of that plastic pollution, especially on native and indigenous flora and fauna and human food supply; and Any research completed or underway on this issue. LGNZ do not hold national level information or data about plastic pollution in New Zealand s coastal waters. LGNZ sought the advice of the regional council group responsible for coastal water - the Coastal Special Interest Group (CSIG). While CSIG was unable to provide the answers to the first three questions posed above, they have provided information about the information that individual regional councils do collect about waste in the marine environment. The key areas where councils focus their efforts is in beach litter surveys, clean-up events and minimising litter in stormwater systems. This work is done in conjunction with government departments, schools and environmental organisations. The CSIG also have provided information about research work underway to improve the understanding of plastic pollution in New Zealand. The issue of plastic pollution in coastal waters is of great interest to the Regional Sector at LGNZ and it would like to be part of ongoing conversations on this issue. LGNZ draft submission Scale, impact and sources of plastic pollution in New Zealand 2

3 Comments from the Coastal Special Interest Group The following are comments have been collated on behalf of the Coastal Special Interest Group who represent 13 regional and unitary councils: With few exceptions, regional councils do not collect information on the quantity or sources of plastic pollution in coastal waters (with a couple of exceptions listed below); Effects of plastic pollution on indigenous flora and fauna, or the human food supply, are not typically measured; and However, many regional councils are interested in this issue and how to collect this information in a consistent and meaningful way. Below is a summary of some of the work and research initiatives with which the sector is involved. Northland Regional Council Northland Regional Council carried out a harbour clean-up in upper Whangarei Harbour in 2017 during which plastic was quantified. They trialled the Department of Conservation/Ministry for the Environment methodology during last clean-up. Sub-areas were audited to assess the location of different types of waste to assist in identifying its source. Northland Regional Council also supports community groups to undertake clean-ups, and audits rubbish collected, within their local coastal environment. Data is collated by the council. Nelson City Council Nelson City Council collaborates with Tasman District Council (both Unitary Authorities) to support the Nelson Tasman Big Beach Clean coordinated by Department of Conservation. Low level informal audits of the types of waste collected indicate a high level of plastics from both onshore and offshore sources, but no quantitative data is readily available. The councils work with Sustainable Coastlines to establish a platform and framework for monitoring types of waste collected in coastal clean-ups with support from the Ministry for the Environment. The future direction is likely to be community-managed coastal cleanups with tools provided for recording types of waste collected. Taranaki Regional Council Taranaki Regional Council have had indirect involvement with beach litter surveys through their involvement with a number of Curious Minds Participatory Science Platform (PSP) projects. Litter surveys have been undertaken at various beaches along the Taranaki coastline as part of the PSP projects including Project Hotspot, Dotterel Defenders, and Project Litter. As part of Project Hotspot, the trajectory of plastic shotgun wads was modelled in collaboration with MetOcean Solutions Ltd: Project Litter is a project driven by schools and will involve quantifying plastic pollution on Taranaki beaches, determining where it comes from, and the impact. Outside of the regional council, various conservation groups in Taranaki have been undertaking beach litter surveys including the Taranaki Conservationists and Rethinking the Plastic Revolution. 3

4 Environment Bay of Plenty In the Bay of Plenty, a stream and estuary clean-up programme involves around 10 clean-up events a year and volumes of waste and recycling are recorded (although not broken down in detail so plastics won t be recorded). Auckland Council Marine Litter activities Data Auckland Council has collected Marine Litter data through the Healthy Waters department, holding some data on marine litter distribution. Auckland Transport has a catchpit and tetratrap program (around 3000 devices), which actively removes litter from stormwater systems. Auckland Transport s street sweeping programme is estimated to have prevented over 6000 tonnes of litter a year from entering stormwater systems. Auckland Council s Research and Monitoring Unit has carried out (informal) beach clean-up work, and is considering adding microplastic monitoring to its benthic programme. The Council have noted there is a lack of data, although they are generally aware of the issue, through NGO work via Sustainable Coastlines and Watercare Harbour Cleanup Trust. They believe that a national method for assessing marine litter would be helpful. Strategy The Natural Environment Strategy Unit carried out a cross-council evaluation of Council s work which related to marine litter. Broadly this work found there were lots of pieces of work occurring in the Council related to marine litter, but most of this work focussed on minimising leakage from the broader waste minimisation cycle, rather than actively assessing and removing litter from the marine environment. A list of Auckland Council departments who are involved in litter related workstreams is attached as an Appendix to this submission. Other research projects and initiatives LGNZ has been informed by CSIG of three proposals underway on this issue, and is aware of an Envirolink proposal that is pending the outcome of this current submission process. Following from the success and momentum gained around understanding the risk of Emerging Organic Contaminants (EoC) to the New Zealand environment (underpinned by a MBIE Endeavour five year funded research programme), linkages are now being drawn with parallel research questions focussing on the risk of microplastics (MP) to New Zealand. The CSIG has linkages to both the EoC and MP programmes via member s direct involvement in Stakeholder Working Panels. Recent research proposals have been submitted for the following programmes and have been reviewed and supported by several members of CSIG. These proposals all specifically address the questions set out in the Environment Committee s letter to LGNZ dated 19 April 2018). 4

5 Impacts of microplastics on New Zealand s bioheritage systems, environments and ecoservices This is an MBIE Endeavour Research proposal which aims to include representatives from key industries that produce plastics, primary production sectors that use plastics (horticulture, viticulture, Zespri etc.), regional councils, Government departments (MfE, MPI, FSNZ, DoC, EPA), the wastewater industry (NZ Water), NGOs (Sustainable Coastlines, 5 Gyres Institute etc.), and WasteMiNZ. Establish and international expertise network and identify knowledge gaps and research needs to manage the risk microplastics pose to New Zealand This proposal is based on the recent initiatives on emerging contaminants (December 2016 workshop to develop a national strategy to manage EoC and MBIE EoC five-year funded programme). Funding from the Royal Society Catalyst is being sought to conduct a two day workshop to formally establish the context in which this research needs to progress and to keep up to date with international research efforts. Several members of CSIG have been invited to participate in this workshop if it is funded. CSIG recognises there are strong linkages between the core research teams associated with the MBIE Endeavour funded EoC and the above two MP programmes. There is consistency in the key research groups from ESR, Cawthron, NIWA, Scion Research, University of Canterbury, Northcott Consulting, mana whenua. In addition the involvement of core stakeholder group (regional councils, DoC, EPA, MPI, MfE, PCE, FSNZ, Water NZ, and industry group representatives). CSIG understands that partnership with international collaborators from CSIRO, USEPA and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology have been confirmed for this workshop. Investigation of micro and macro plastic pollution using citizen science This MBIE Smart Idea proposal is now in the second stage of full proposal development. Greater Wellington Regional Council s Environmental Science Department (including the CSIG convener and members) have indicated they will provide support for this proposal, and given the research linkages and overlap in agencies there will be keen interest on the outcome of this work. Provisional Envirolink advice grant proposal We are aware that PCE have commissioned a review by Cawthron Institute on microplastics in New Zealand. Depending on the outcomes of the above listed research proposal as well as the PCE investigation, an Envirolink advice grant tailored to these outcomes and recommendations may be further developed later this year. 5

6 Appendix Below is a list of Auckland Council department involved in litter related workstreams: Healthy Waters Maintenance of gross pollutant traps Litter Management toolbox Addresses Illegal dumping in waterways Integrated watershed management plans Otara Neat Streets community programme Community empowerment programmes Tetratraps assessments Stormwater Bylaw 2016 Litter Hot Spot map Waste Solutions Marine Litter Related Datasets: Litter collection , Accumulated litter sites identified, Household related litter data , Sanitary related litter , Smoking related litter , Packaging and container litter , Other litter , Food and beverage related litter , Fishing and boating litter , Other plastic litter , Construction litter , Vehicle related litter Not funded for litter on beaches Streetscapes contracts (public spaces) Illegal dumping (from kerb to private property boundary) Illegal dumping strategy Waste Minimisation and Management Plan Solid Waste bylaw 2012 Council community recycling centres Waste management community champions Supporting public good waste minimisation services Compliance and Regulatory Services Enforcement officers act under Litter Act

7 Environmental Services RIMU Parks Community Facilities Sustainable Schools Programmes educate children on sustainability and encourage recycling, waste reduction initiatives Research: litter impacts on seabirds Signage in Parks educate public on not littering Manage litter on the foreshore (between Mean High Water Spring and Mean Low Water Spring on council maintained beaches. 7