May 12, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. Carter Holt Harvey today said it was concerned that bylaws proposed by three Auckland councils could threaten paper recycling, and the on-going viability of Penrose, New Zealand’s only mill that processes 100% recycled paper. “The proposed waste bylaw would seriously disadvantage businesses engaged in recycling and re-manufacturing”, said Rhys Jones, Carter Holt Harvey’s Chief Operating Officer of Pulp, Paper and Packaging. The by-Law being suggested by Rodney, Waitakere and North Shore City councils would require anyone collecting recyclable material, including material from private property; • to pay very large bonds and taxes on the materials they already pay the cost of collecting • to be personally licensed. • to be subject to highly uncertain criteria to obtain a licence, • to increase their commercial risk by limiting the term of the licence to one year • to be subject to control over where and to whom they may on-sell recycled materials. Carter Holt Harvey currently collects in excess of 230,000 tonnes of waste paper, of which 200,000 is re-manufactured into packaging grades of paper at its Penrose, Whakatane and Kinleith paper mills. “This represents 70% of the volume of paper materials used in New Zealand which is high by OECD standards”, Mr Jones said. The bonds and taxes proposed in particular would render recycling operations such as Penrose uneconomic. Mr Jones said the recycling industry currently provides a huge environmental and financial benefit to the Auckland region by diverting waste from landfill. The effect of the by-law however, would result in more waste going to landfill and a higher cost to ratepayers and industry.