Rubbish mailed to MPs
Protesters are using Parliament’s freepost service to send plastic waste to MPs.
Last week’s target was Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker, and this week it is National Party environment spokesman Scott Simpson.
Upper Hutt resident Tracey Ultra has been sending parcels of plastic including bread bags, which are not recyclable.
‘‘We need central government to ban non-recyclable, single-use plastic packaging and invest in recycling plants,’’ she said.
Ultra said she sent plastic-filled mail to Parker last week and this week she was sending two parcels to Simpson.
The group’s Facebook page, which has nearly 500 members, says the action is ‘‘simple and relentless’’.
‘‘Plastic pollution is a production issue, not a consumer issue. It must be addressed by regulation not voluntary schemes – so it is a political issue,’’ the page said.
Co-ordinator Wade Bishop, of Christchurch, said more than 120 parcels had been sent to date – about 55 last week and 65 or so this week.
The aim was twofold – the first being that all MPs would become aware of waste as a political issue, and second to move the conversation away from the constant emphasis on consumer behaviour.
‘‘Are consumers expected to ask how much pallet wrap was used to transport the product they want to buy – or ask to only see the appliances in a store that don’t come packed in polystyrene or have boxes wrapped in film?’’ he said.
Kristy Lorson, the founder of Zero Waste in NZ! and online zero waste store EarthSavvy, also supported the Plastic 2 Parliament campaign this week.
‘‘We avoid using single-use plastic in our house, so I sent plastic litter that I picked up off the street.’’ Banning plastic bags was a great start but the Government needed to take serious action to further reduce single-use plastics, she said.
Simpson said yesterday he had received about half a rubbish bag worth of plastic at his parliamentary office.
‘‘I would suggest people send this to the minister’s office instead as there has been a complete lack of action on recycling and waste minimisation from this Government. They have been in Government two years and have done nothing but talk.’’
The Government is currently running consultation on products for mandatory product stewardship schemes, which could pass the responsibility of managing the plastic rubbish back to the manufacturers.
‘‘I hope the senders have contributed their ideas in a constructive way to the public consultation process,’’ Simpson said.