I N F O R M AT I O N S H E E T
Waste Warriors
Up to 70% of an average household’s waste
could be recycled, upcycled or composted. In this
workshop we’ll look at where NZ rubbish comes
from, goes to and how to improve on wasteful habits.
What Waste?
Global marketing encourages us to buy more, upgrade frequently
and replace rather than repair. But the stuff we buy is made using
limited resources such as oil, metals, minerals and water.
Then, when we’ve finished with our product and its packaging, we
use more resources like space, fresh air, and energy getting rid of it.
Handy Websites:
www.tiny.cc/46kwyw
Ninety-nine per cent of everything bought ends up in a landfill within
6 months or less. In fact, most things are designed to be wasted.
Besides costing us money, landfills have other side-effects, such as:
Regional Recycling Directory
• producing leachate and methane • bad smells • being a visual
eyesore • soil and water pollution • eventual health effects
www.gw.govt.nz/Recyclingdirectory/
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Curb-side Recycling in Wellington
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
www.tiny.cc/46kwyw
Reusable Nappies
Floating in the north Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest dump:
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Converging ocean currents
have swept together many millions of tonnes of plastic rubbish,
which now pollute an area estimated to be up to 2 times the size of
France.
www.thenappylady.co.nz
E-Waste
www.sustaintrust.org.nz/e-cycle
A decomposing Albatross reveals the amount of plastic it has eaten and died from.
Get Started Today
You can reduce your waste by making more conscious choices
when shopping, by buying second-hand, and simply by buying less.
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Choose paper, glass and tin packaging over plastic. Buy larger
sizes, rather than individual servings. And remember to take your
own bags.
Many things can be acquired outside a shop. Step up your futurefriendly behaviour by looking into vege box collectives, markets,
produce swaps, Trade Me, second-hand shops and Wellington Time
Bank - all good ways to reduce waste.
Responsible Recycling
More Handy Websites
Wellington Time Bank
www.wellingtontimebank.org.nz
Composting for Businesses
http://tiny.cc/z6qwyw
Ethical Shopping
www.consciousconsumers.org.nz
Nappy Composting
www.envirocomp.co.nz
Coastal Clean-Ups
www.sustainablecoastlines.org
Stuck for where to take batteries, phones, e-waste and efficient
light bulbs? All these things can be taken to Sustainability Trust for
correct disposal. For other items, check out the Regional Council’s
recycling directory.
Worm Farms and Composting
If you’re not already composting, you can reduce your waste by up
to 70% by setting up a compost or worm farm. Home Advice run
workshops on building free composts and worm farms. Give us a
call if you’d like more info.
Refuse, Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle!
Get a ‘No Junk Mail’ sign for your mail box (or use a permanent
marker).
Bring your own reusable items instead of using take away coffee
cups, disposable cutlery, plastic bags, and paper napkins.
Make your own worm farm out of old tires and carpet.
Organise to take empty cereal boxes, office scrap paper and other
craft items to your local kindy.
Use old paint cans, filing cabinets, drawers or tires to create
containers for plants and flowers.
Make your own compost out of old pallets.
Swap your baking for a friend’s frozen soup - save money and
packaging. Yum!
Organise a visit to your local recycling plant or
land fill with the Home Advice team.
www.sustaintrust.org.nz
Phone: 0508 78 78 24 Fax: 04 385 0501 Email: [email protected]
2 Forresters Lane, Te Aro, Wellington 6011