Should disposable products (such as plastic cups, plates, and cutlery) that contain less than 50% of biodegradable material be banned?

Yes - and make bio degradable disposable products cheap to buy

I think we should try find an alternative but in the meantime try and reduce are usage of plastic.

Plastic cutterly/straws are the best! UNBAN them

Not yet, but offer incentives to companies to switch to more environmentally friendly packaging and utensils.

The plastics issue is more of an issue of consumer behaviour not reusing plastics. Manufacturers should be regulated to make all plastic materials reusable, and the public given incentive to reuse. Reuse is far more important than recycling.

Many biodegradable products are made with chemicals that are just as bad for the environment as plastics

Yes, but ensure disabled people can access disposable products as needed

No, these will still fragment into micro-plastics, and the 50% will give a loop hole wherein companies fill with plant-based materials. Instead: ban disposable items that are not reusable, recyclable in existing systems, or certified to fully compost under realistic local conditions.

Make all disposable packaging 100% recyclable

Yes, but disposable medical equipment should be exempt.

Yes, replace plastic with biodegradable material, but not wheat or corn based. (I have celiac disease and I'm allergic to plates, straws, cutlery, and sometimes napkins.)

Landfill replacement should be explored, with burning the trash you generate energy to turn turbines. The technology for filtration and emit clean gases in possible.

Yes, but at the same time ensure biodegradable products don't end up in landfill

Create a society where you bring your own and there are discounts such as coffee cups. And it should be compostable rather than biodegradable

Possibly yes. But not for the woke environmentalism implied in the question. Microplastics appear to be very toxic and are in everyone. We likely should ban their production.

No just invest more money on the landfill centers And tax breaks for companies That are helping the agenda

No, companies should be taxed more if they use plastic products that contain less than 50% biodegradable material

Yes, but a phasing out process over the span of 5-10 years and invest in bamboo and hemp products instead

No unless there are a greater number of facilities that can process biodegradable materials. Focus should be on increacreasing being reusable or increased recyclable content and options for recycling

In almost every conceivable case, with the exception of maybe complimentary products offered at clinics and medical facilities (Unless there is some rational work-around, I am not thinking too deep about this)

As it's a matter of political and economic policy. Each of the provided options represents a different approach to the issue of plastic waste.

It should slowly be implemented so small business can adjust without having to imminently spend money on biodegradable products.

They should, if it's actually logical, don't get of resources and ruin the world (we need cups etc, don't get rid of them all for a potentially flawed clause).

Yes but decease the prices of biodegradable materials and make them more affordable for companies and consumers to use rather than the non biodegradable materials

Bio degradable win put into a plastic bag that is put into the landfill is still not biodegradable so just stop making it to start with and make it out of full natural resources that can be thrown out into the environment

i dont think they should be banned but i think they should be used less and not selled as much here in NZ

This should be home compostable, biodegradable is not sufficient

No bit encourage to use

In general they should be banned, but there may be some industries where plastic items are needed for a set purpose.

Introduce a national recycling scheme

Yes, and put in place an incentive for businesses to increase their level of sustainability on products that are lower than 75% biodegradability

Yes. Also, New Zealand should introduce a deposit scheme on all aluminium and glass bottles to push Kiwis to recycle and push companies to reuse their packaging as is done in other parts of the work effectively.

it is a process it will be reduced over time

Develop better recycling plants in NZ

Focus on making disposable products that are easy to recycle and/or compost

If the price of biodegradable disposable products is lessened

Yes but only with implications, consequences on manufacturers and producers, NOT consumers

Encourage not ban

Ban disposal products and single use products and packaging that are not 99.99% biodegradable

Anything that can not be recycled in nz should be banned

Not unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the process for making biodegradable materials is less harmful not just the end product.

Should be encouraged not banned, selling disposable home items in stores instead of non biodegradable

No private jets!

No, start recycling and compost centres in NZ, instead of sending it off shore.

Yes but it might be hard to manage

Not plastic straws

yes, but over a long period of time

Open the factory that is closed burn these products produce water

Gradual elimination

invest more money into alternatives and innovation of new products to help bring the cost of environmentally sustainable product down.

yes but there needs to be composting facilities for the compostable plates etc. otherwise they go to landfill and contribute to CO2 and methane from decomposing.

I think this need a lot more consideration

A complex issue as most disposable medical products are plastic have improved healthcare so it depends

Maybe not banned but phased out.

Yes but if there is complaints about it then bring it back PLEASE

I don’t think they should be banned, but restricted back to uses only in cafes, eateries etc

Yes and ban polyester sheets and clothing as well

Yes, a company should be responsible for the full lifecycle of their product.

some should be banned not all

Only where the alternative has a proven net improvement to the damage to the environment from its production and disposal.

Yes, but there should be more incentives to recycle, like larger bins. There should also be more eco-friendly disposable products that are sustainable and more efficient at their job rather than cheap, easily broken and often useless uses of material, like cheap paper straws.

No. But these items should be either completely recyclable or completely biodegradable.

No, Some people with physical/mental disabilities need the sturdiness of plastic straws and cutlery. Paper and wood doesn't cut it for some people.

yes but make metal and more environmentally friendly things cheaper

We need to massively REDUCE the use of any disposable/single use products and packaging.

Keep As Is.

Establish end of use management systems that uock the value in the material and eliminate impact of landfill. Increase funds for literring and incorrect disposal

We need better waste management systems

Yes but only AFTER the sale of 80% of products still in circulation to avoid mass dumping into landfill

Not banned but taxed

Disposable products should be phased out regardless

Ban all plastics and have a plastic tax to pay for the recycling and disposal of plastic if the do use it

Ban all disposable products unless they are 100% biodegradable

Who cares not me

No, The government should invest in more recycling facilities to cut down on the waste

I feel like of we find business willing to make more eco friendly products we can go ahead and throw the plastic away, nothing until then

Some are needed for medical use, no.

If it goes to landfill being biodegradable is irrelevant

I think we should choose whether or not we use plastic

There should be appropriate timed phase out strategies that acknowledge the feasibility of alternatives

Where practical, yes

Not until a better alternative is found

Add additional tax to pay for plastic processing.

Mixing plastics isn’t the answer

I don't think it should be banned. But more options such as paper or another substitute to plastic should be offered/encouraged to get.

No we need to look into & build more real recycling technologies in this country that can reuse or repurpose our waste more efficiently like Swedin. Big machines that burn waste & turn it into energy & filter out clean airflow. Turn cardboard into compressed wood logs to sell back to people. It’s not rocket science it’s just investment.

Yes but also push and incentives recycling and educate people on how to be more stustainable

No, instead create disincentives to consumerism

We can’t use plastic straws or have plastic bags but CEO’s, millionaires, politicians etc etc can gallivant all over the world in their planes and jets? Like that makes sense. Yes we do need biodegradable things but they need to not have toxic substances like paper straws have just been found to have. Like, come on. Test it before releasing it to the public.

No, because some are essential (e.g. medical usage) but heavily encourage biodegradable products

Actually, work on a system where we can recycle, follow the lead like Germany. NZ is 20 years behind

Yes, if it will improve environmental sustainability.

Yes, but furthermore single use products should be compostable and the street side trash collection should collect compostable trash for industrial composting.

No, we should not be mixing biodegradable materials with plastic as it destroys recycling processes

Yes but only if a sustainable alternative is provided

No. Ban all plastic packaging

Cut off the Indians hands who litter

Yes, as long as the biodegradable products are affordable.

the old maccas straws need to be brung back