| Let
the good times roll
Tackling waste in your
community needn't be a
chore. With a classic
Kiwi can-do attitude,
and a creative approach,
waste can become a great
reason to get together
and have fun. Take the
Parau Resident and Ratepayers
Association in Waitakere
City. They held a 'Trash
to Trolley' event in May
2008. Trolleys built using
waste collected in the
neighbourhood will be
raced in a trolley derby.
How hard can it be? Initiate
a community waste reduction
project today. |
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| Operation
Spring Clean
Is there some public land
in your neighbourhood
that could do with a little
tender lovin' care? Each
year, Keep Waitakere Beautiful
Trust organises Operation
Spring Clean to promote
waste reduction in the
community. Read more about
this annual initiative. |
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| Expanded
recycling
capacity Waitakere
and Auckland Cities are
now recycling
plastics #1 to #7 (check
for the ID number on the
bottom of plastic containers.)
In Auckland City, you
can now also recycle Tetra
Pak cartons. This expanded
community service represents
a saving for Waitakere
City residents, who can
now put less plastic waste
into their user-pay rubbish
sacks and will reduce
rubbish going to landfill.
Call your local council
for more details on the
new recycling criteria. |
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| Recycling
nation There's
a whole community of people
and organisations all
over our region who'd
love to get their hands
on your waste! That community
is just a tap on your
keyboard away. Visit The
Waste Exchange or
Zero Waste, just for starters. |
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| Waste
minimisation project
EcoMatters has been working
with Auckland City Council
since May 2006 on a community-based
project to raise awareness
of council recycling
services available to
residents and to promote
waste minimisation. The
project's aim is to increase
recycling rates and reduce
the level of waste sent
to landfill. This is achieved
by featuring a recycling
roadshow at local community
events and working with
local residents to help
them come up with their
own solutions for minimising
waste in their community.
|
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| EcoWise
Community Awards
Would you like to reward
a Waitakere City based
volunteer who works tirelessly
to reduce waste in your
community? Why not nominate
them for the EcoWise
Community Awards? |
| |
| Share
resources You wouldn't
believe the number of
DIY tools that are rarely
used and end up in landfill.
How about sharing hedge
clippers, weed eaters,
the mower or chainsaw
across the back fence
or with friends/family
and split the purchase
costs and maintenance
of the tools? (Might be
an idea to set up an agreement
beforehand in case of
disagreements.) |
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| Inorganic
rubbish collections
Ideally, we're trying
to promote a more environmentally
sustainable approach to
our inorganic waste -
reusing, reducing, recycling
and rethinking. Councils'
yearly or biannual inorganic
collections do sort and
recycle some inorganic
waste. But we'd like to
encourage you to be more
proactive and take responsibility
for the waste generated
in your community. There
are plenty of ideas right
here on the EcoMatters
site. |
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| Support
second hand shops
Before you head down to
the local shopping mall,
consider whether your
local op shop may have
what you are looking for.
By supporting your local
op shop you are keeping
your money in your community
and are often supporting
charitable community work.
Also, think before you
throw! Can the items you
are looking to discard
be donated to support
the good work of local
charities such as the
Auckland City Mission,
RMS Refugee Resettlement
or the Salvation Army? |
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