Organic Materials

Why do we exist and what are we trying to achieve for the industry?

The group’s vision is to minimise the generation of residual organic materials, and to maximise the value of residual organic materials, ensuring their beneficial reuse.

Who is on the steering committee?

What are we working on?

The steering committee has agreed on a strategic plan for 2020 -2022 which can be viewed here.

The work plan for 2021 has been finalised and can be viewed here.

Current projects include:

• Work with WasteMINZ Health and Safety Sector Group to develop health and safety guidelines for processing activities at organic waste facilities.
• Work looking into compostable packaging and how it can be processed in New Zealand. Learn more here.
• Investigating emerging and existing contaminants in compost. Read more here.

What are the past projects that the sector group has developed or assisted in?

• Developed Best Practise Guidelines for the advertising of compostable products
• Created a database of composting facilities which accept compostable packaging
• Clopyralid – a testing protocol for clopyralid in compost samples has been developed. The committee has also applied to the Environmental Protection Agency to have clopyralid reassessed. More information on this project can be found here.
• Provide input into the development of the ecological soil guideline values (ECOSGV) for New Zealand
• Developed a health and safety factsheet for bioaerosols
• Determining an appropriate standard/brand mark for compostable film
• An investigation into Legionella Longbeachae
• NZS4454: 2005 – Composts, Soil Conditioners and Mulches 
• Introduction to Composting Science and Management for Industry Training – An Overview of the Scientific Principles of the Composting Process (2007) 
• A tool Kit for: NZS4454: 2005 – The New Zealand Standard for Composts, Soil Conditioners and Mulches (2007) 
• Consent Guide for Composting Operations in New Zealand (2009) 
• Fact Sheet series for compost producers to provide to customers

How can I access more information?

To find out more about this sector group or to join (so that you can receive information about the sector group), please contact our Sector Project Manager Sarah Pritchett.