See the Workshop Schedule
Background
WasteMINZ is undertaking a project to provide an overview or environmental scan of the challenges facing the small battery sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. We have engaged with Eunomia to progress this work. The environmental scan will aim to capture the challenges and issues the sector faces from the point of manufacturing to end of life and disposal, and, where possible, outline possible solutions or recommendations.
Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder engagement is a central part of the environmental Scan. We are holding a series of open invite workshops to provide an opportunity for participants to share their perspectives and issues, and discuss barriers to improved management.
Stakeholder Workshops
The workshops have been scheduled around the different stages of the battery life cycle in order to focus the discussion in each session on the specific challenges of that stage. It may be the case that you, or people from your organisation, need to attend more than one workshop.
Workshops will include:
If you are unsure which workshop you would be best to attend, please contact Charlotte Whiter (charlotte@wasteminz.org.nz) to discuss.
Not Able To Attend?
If you are unable to attend your preferred workshop(s) you will still be able to provide your input through a short survey. Make sure to signup for updates so you will be notified when this is available.
Behaviour Change - Monday 6th October - 10am-11:30am
Behaviour change occurs before and during the small battery life cycle. It involves understanding what appropriate management options exist for end-of-life small batteries, communicating this to consumers, and encouraging appropriate behaviours.
Who Should Attend
Anyone who delivers behaviour change and education, and engages with communities. This includes (but is not limited to) those working for councils and other government agencies, community groups, waste operators (both for and not-for profit).
Manufacturers and Importers - Tuesday 7th October - 1:30pm-3pm
This is commonly seen as the start of the life-cycle - when small batteries enter New Zealand. The batteries may be standalone or already be incorporated into other products (such as consumer electronics and vapes)
Who Should Attend
Businesses that import batteries (including products containing batteries) into New Zealand (whether manufactured by themselves or others) for retail or to supply a secondary manufacturing or production process.
Retailers and Consumers - Wednesday 8th October 10am-11:30am
This stage is when small batteries, or products containing small batteries, are sold to the consumer.
Who Should Attend
Organisations that represent consumer and retail groups, retailers of batteries and battery-containing products, consumers of large quantities of small batteries. This group also includes those from logistics and transport organisations that support the retail sector. that represent consumer and retail groups, retailers of batteries and battery-containing products, consumers of large quantities of small batteries. This group also includes those from logistics and transport organisations that support the retail sector.
Collection Points - Wednesday 8th October 2pm-3:30pm
At this stage, batteries that are no longer useable or wanted by the consumer are collected. It includes collection points where post-consumer batteries are accepted for recovery.
Who Should Attend
Those that host collection points for batteries and battery-containing products. This includes organisations that run product stewardship schemes, and collection points (multiple or single).
Waste Handlers - Monday 13 October 10am-11:30am
This stage covers handling waste that does or may contain end-of-life batteries that have not been captured for recovery
Who Should Attend
Waste operators, both for and not-for profit (including councils that provide waste operations in-house) and council staff that oversee waste operations and contracts; Industry organisations that represent these operators.
End Of Life - Tuesday 14 October 1pm-2:30pm
At this stage, batteries are received from collection points, extracted from e-waste, and bulked ready for reprocessing
Who Should Attend
E-waste and scrap metal recyclers and recyclers of other items that may contain end-of-life batteries, and those that receive batteries from collection points for aggregation and preparation for reprocessing.
Government Agencies - Wednesday 15 October 9:30am-11am
Central government agencies that have a role in the small battery life-cycle at any point.
Who Should Attend
Officers from central government agencies that are involved with small batteries directly or indirectly.
Territorial Authorities - Thursday 16 October 1pm-2:30pm
A range of small battery issues are managed by territorial authority staff through development of waste strategies, local regulation, operational planning, and contract management
Who Should Attend
Council officers with a high level strategic and operational lens to small battery issues. If you are a council officer working in the communications, education, and behaviour change sectors please join the behaviour change workshop; if you are a council officer that manages contracts and operations please join the waste handlers workshop.