The evolution of WasteMINZ RESTAURANT WASTE: SOURCES & CAUSES
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Photo: Jason Burgess/burgseye wasteminz Paul Evans reports on the key areas of focus for WasteMINZ over the past few years. 12 LEAVE NO TRACE 12 Paul Evans interviews Dave Watson about the innovative approach taken towards event waste management at Chief executive officer Splore 2014. Paul Evans \ +64 9 476 7172 [email protected] 16 Membership manager FISHER & PAYKEL: 20 Carole Inglis \ +64 9 476 7163 [email protected] YEARS OF RECYCLING Simon Wilkinson outlines the Office manager achievements of the Fisher & Paykel CJ Dooner \ +64 9 476 7162 appliance recycling programme. [email protected]
Sector group co-ordinator Jenny Marshall \ +64 9 476 7162 20 [email protected] PEOPLE, PASSION Sector projects manager 20 & WAsTE Nic Quilty \ +64 9 476 7167 Paul Evans highlights the community [email protected] engagement underpinning Auckland Council’s work in targeting zero waste Editor, revolve Kim Mundell \ +64 21 655 917 by 2040. [email protected] design, revolve 24 Leanne Lassman \ +64 21 267 3885 RESTAURANT FOOD [email protected] WASTE: identifying the T +64 9 476 7162 SOURCES & CAUSES PO Box 305426, Triton Plaza, North Shore 0757 Tess Drewitt shares the results of Unit 1B, 5 Ceres Court, Rosedale, Auckland her Master’s thesis into the causes 0632 New Zealand of restaurant waste in Sweden, the www.wasteminz.org.nz Netherlands and China. WasteMINZ is the authoritative voice on 26 waste and resource recovery in New Zealand, 26 and seeks to achieve ongoing and positive MORE FOR YOUR MONEY development of our industry. Sue Coutts champions the role of WasteMINZ publishes Revolve magazine five social and community enterprise times a year, it plays a vital role in ensuring in reconciling profitability with the our members are up-to-date with the latest in common good. industry news, policy and legislative changes as well as innovations and advances.
ISSN 2324-5417 (Print) regulars ISSN 2324-5425 (Online) 4 from paul's desk 5 your board 6 news BITES 10 Ministry for the environment 30 sector groups 32 COUNCIL NEWS 34 events 35 gold + silver members from paul's desk Talk to me +64 9 476 7172
Paul Evans, CEO, WasteMINZ [email protected]
We are one third of the way through of issues, from behaviour change, business and community enterprise the year already, and boy is time to waste data, as well as what’s on (page 26). flying by. So much has already the Ministry for the Environment’s I’d also like to draw your happened and we’ve got much horizon. attention to an article I’ve written more to come for you. I must extend my sincere thanks (page 8) about WasteMINZ’ Early April saw another very to all those who presented at the journey over the past few years, successful WasteMINZ Roundup, Roundup; once again the standard so as a valued member you have in Queenstown. We were truly of presentations was incredibly a strong understanding of where delighted to hold the Roundup in high and I was impressed with the the organisation has come from, the South Island; it had been some innovative and collaborative work how we have evolved, where we time since a WasteMINZ event that is happening right across the are going and how your Board is had been held in the mainland. It country. I would also like to thank working for you. was great to be back, as we want all those who made the effort to Our attention now turns to to ensure that our events remain attend as well as the significant the conference which is being accessible for our many South Island contributions of our supporting held in Wellington from 20 to 23 members. partner, the Ministry for the October. Very shortly, we will be This year the Roundup Environment and the team from announcing the conference theme programme included a stream CRN (particularly Marty Hoffart and and putting out our call for papers, on “Council, Community and Sue Coutts) who supported us in so I encourage you to start thinking Commercial sectors Collaborating” bringing the C4 stream together. about what projects and initiatives (C4 for short), where the vital role This edition of revolve very much you would like to showcase. The that each of these sectors play in builds upon the collaborative theme success of our conference is very achieving better waste and resource of the Roundup, in particular, articles much determined by the positive recovery outcomes was explored. I on Auckland Council’s work towards participation of our members. believe this collaborative approach creating a positive movement is very much the way of the future of change through innovative and I am confident that WasteMINZ community engagement strategies can play a significant role in ensuring (page 20) and Sue Coutts of the effective cooperation. Our general Community Recycling Network stream addressed a broad range writes on the collaboration between how to CONTACT YOUR BOARD MEMBERS
Paul Bishop Chair Darren Patterson Deputy chair Grahame Christian \ EnviroWaste Services Ltd \ Patterson Environmental \ Smart Environmental [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
4 Paul Bishop Your Board [email protected]
Having been involved with the waste play an active and positive role in under Paul Evans’ leadership, and industry over the last eleven years, shaping the future direction of the the Board believes that WasteMINZ I consider it a privilege to be on the organisation. The Board are your is now well placed for the years to WasteMINZ Board and to have been elected representatives and we are come. As part of future-proofing the Chair for the last five years. all available should there ever be a the organisation, I am pleased to WasteMINZ Board members matter you’d like to discuss. You will announce that WasteMINZ has take their roles very seriously and find all of our contact details below, recently purchased its own modest all members volunteer a significant so please reach out if you ever feel offices in Albany, which we will move amount of time to ensure that the need. into early in the new financial year. the organisation has high quality If I were to reflect on years gone The move is about ensuring governance and is continuing to by, WasteMINZ has often been a the organisation has appropriate advance services and support challenging organisation to run from facilities to support our members for our members in a positive a financial standpoint. We had some and it reduces overall cost of manner. This can be difficult very lean years where the future of accommodation within the annual given the diversity of opinions the organisation was far less secure operations budget. The purchase and ideals within our membership than it is today. (Our Chief Executive has been fully funded from financial base, as well as the ever present Paul Evans outlines this in his article reserves, meaning the organisation challenges of managing a not-for- on page 8). Effective planning, and has not incurred any debt. The profit organisation in a sustainable an extremely prudent approach to move will be positive in terms of manner. WasteMINZ has been financial management has enabled cash flow, and with more space, operating for over a quarter of a real turnaround. This successful gives the group increased options a century, and a key part of the approach has always been with the for the future. Board’s duty of care is to ensure that best interests of the organisation I strongly encourage you to read the organisation is well placed to and its members in mind and we Paul’s article. It will give you more operate for another 25 years, while have been successful in maintaining details on the office purchase as continuing to provide excellent costs to members while at the well as an excellent understanding value to our members. same time strengthening the of where we have come from and Along with these considerations, organisation’s balance sheet. where we are going. we are very aware that our members We have consolidated our must have the opportunity to position over the last two years
John Dragicevich Simonne Eldridge Dominic Salmon \ Auckland Council \ Tonkin & Taylor \ Hastings District Council [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 5 News Bites MOVERS & SHAKERS & MOVERS & SHAKERS & MOVERS
Gwilym van Hoffen Gwilym van Hoffen has shifted back into his role as director of niche consultant firm, AMPL Consulting, following completion of a 3-year contract with Auckland Council’s Solid Waste Unit. The contract role was to oversee the development and adoption of Auckland’s first combined Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP), and the subsequent Solid Waste Bylaw CarTakeBack and operational controls. Ongoing delivery of the WMMP’s suite of waste minimisation initiatives has takes Silver now been handed over to council’s solid waste team, who will see the WasteMINZ welcomes new Silver cars. Their service begins with changes through procurement and member, CarTakeBack New Zealand an instant car valuation via the on to their ‘go-live’ launch, from Limited, the organisation behind ScrapCarRecycling.co.nz website 2015/16 onwards. the innovative ScrapCarRecycling. and ends with a certificate of [email protected] co.nz website. After experiencing destruction providing reassurance an encouraging response from the to car owners that their car has public and participating scrapyards been properly disposed of. Behind welcome to our and dismantlers since their launch the scenes, FADS integrates the in February 2012, CarTakeBack activities of the network. Every new members is expanding its operational and transaction is monitored in real-time, SILVER promotional activities in the North from car valuations and purchases to Scrap Car Recycling and South Islands. car de-registration and the recycling Their car recycling initiative is process, to the benefit of both the CORPORATE founded upon two key principles: network and the authorities. Hydrotech Drainage & Plumbing the guarantee of a fair price to The recent launch of CharityCar. SMALL BUSINESS the disposers of old cars, be they org.nz, allows people to donate Eco-Pal members of the public, government the value of their old car to great Pete's Takeaways causes, including charities such as or commercial organisations, and S.J. Timpany Contracting Ltd the observance of demanding Make-A-Wish. Tipene Plumbing environmental and customer service You can find out more about standards, by its network of car how CarTakeBack’s scrap car individual recycling centres. recycling network can make a Iris Donohue Their state-of-the-art financial difference to you, by contacting Gwilym van Hoffen and data system (FADS) supports them on 0800 825 346, info@ Susan Rabitte the high level of service demanded scrapcarrecycling.co.nz or visiting Ken Clarke today by the disposers of old www.scrapcarrecycling.co.nz.
6 MOVERS & SHAKERS & MOVERS & SHAKERS & MOVERS When cars reach the end of the road
tony phillips iris donoghue Turn to Tony Phillips recently joined OCS As the retiring Chair of Keep New as part of the Wasteline Team and Zealand Beautiful, Iris is now putting has been tasked with reducing her energy into Keep Auckland CarTakeBack waste at Auckland Airport. He will Beautiful (Chair). Iris is passionate be setting up a transitional waste about assisting with establishing a facility airside, in association with litter free Auckland region, along AIAL and MPI. The facility will be the same lines as the regional Scrap car recycling treated like a quarantine facility due graffiti project that she was part to the biosecurity risk associated of for 6 years. Reducing waste to – the easy way with food coming in on international landfill, and behavioural change are flights. At present no waste is the two main focusses for this brand diverted from an international flight new project. so this new facility will see the Iris can be contacted on iris123@ start of a recycling/waste diversion vodafone.co.nz. programme.
Tony can be contacted on tony. [email protected].
tess drewitt janine pearson Tess recently joined Jacobs SKM Janine joins Jacobs SKM Auckland in Wellington as an environmental from London where she has consultant. After working in legal been working for seven years and government roles, Tess as an environmental planner, completed her MSc in Sweden last predominantly in the field of year, where she gained practical waste management. Janine experience in waste management, will be providing planning and biogas systems, as well as food environmental support to Jacobs' waste monitoring, measurement waste management projects in New and prevention. Zealand. 0800 825 346 Tess can be contacted on tess. Janine can be contacted on Janine. [email protected]. [email protected]. [email protected]
www.scrapcarrecycling.co.nz may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 7 The Evolution of WasteMINZ By Paul Evans, CEO WasteMINZ
asteMINZ is my first to ensure the longevity and efficacy Prudent financial management was opportunity to run a of WasteMINZ. At this point not absolutely necessary to ensure a Wmembership based only did the Board put an enhanced positive future. organisation and I must admit it’s focus on the financial stewardship However, this has at times far harder than I would ever have of the organisation, but they also opened us up to criticism, with thought. In particular there is the reshaped the organisation’s vision a small number of members constant tension between making to better reflect the environment suggesting our approach was sure the organisation continues at the time. From this WasteMINZ’ too conservative and that we to be financially sustainable for vision was established as ‘to deliver were building too much equity. the long haul, and concomitantly value to our members through the Whilst I respect our members’ ensuring members continue to shaping and sharing of policy and right to such opinions, I believe perceive our services and events the development of industry good the Board has absolutely struck as value for money. Should practice’. the appropriate balance between WasteMINZ end up out of balance To give effect to this, our board finance and delivery. Indeed over in either direction things could has focussed on three key areas, the years we have seen many similar quickly turn to custard. these being: organisations in our space falter and fade away because their Boards • Increasing professionalism Where we’ve simply didn’t recognise the issue • Knowledge sharing and earlier. come from development Indeed WasteMINZ found itself in a • Support and advocacy services The way forward very challenging position just four All of WasteMINZ’ activities are now In the two years I have been with short years ago. In the year ended 30 built around these three pillars. WasteMINZ it has been a real June 2009 WasteMINZ lost $115,000 pleasure to work with a Board that and then in the year ended 30 June continually keeps the needs of the 2010 we lost another $43,000. For an Consolidating organisation and its members front organisation of our size $158,000 in our position of mind. They continually remind me losses in just two short years was real From mid-2011 through mid- at each and every Board meeting cause for concern for the Board. Had 2013 WasteMINZ was very much that WasteMINZ is here for the this pattern been allowed to continue in consolidation mode, with a benefit of its members and this unabated, in just a couple of years strong focus on prudent financial same ethos is present throughout WasteMINZ would have ceased management and strengthening the entire WasteMINZ team. to exist. To their credit the Board our balance sheet, at the same time Over the past year our improved at the time and my predecessor keeping membership and event position has allowed us to ‘gear- Marion Short recognised that attendance fees at their current up’ our service provision to a point change was needed and set about levels. I am personally very proud where we are now delivering far putting in place effective strategies to have built upon Marion’s work more than we ever have previously. to consolidate the organisation’s to deliver vastly improved financial position. The changes required were results throughout this period. not always easy, but were necessary
8
27269_O-I NZ Glass Revolve HP Ad_Outlines.indd 1 8/04/14 12:48 PM Key highlights of the past year surpluses, are reinvested The purchase of these premises include: appropriately for the benefit of has many benefits for WasteMINZ, • The development of the Land WasteMINZ members and our including better facilities and Disposal Technical Guidelines sector. infrastructure to support our (which will be completed this year) We also have other exciting members and sector groups, it increases our options for the • The on-going development of initiatives which we hope to be able future and most importantly it the Health and Safety Guidelines to announce shortly. greatly reduces our overall cost for the solid waste and resource As mentioned by Paul Bishop in of accommodation resulting in a recovery industry (which will also his Board column, WasteMINZ has positive effect on cash flow. You’ll be completed this year) recently purchased our own modest offices in Albany (just a couple of all be invited to our ‘housewarming’ • Regular meetings and liaison blocks from our current location), just as soon as we are in! with the Waste Advisory Board which we will move to early in the This positive turnaround has to ensure they are abreast of new financial year. Our prudent only been possible due to strong emerging industry issues approach over the last few years and governance; a dedicated team • Enhanced resourcing for our the resulting strong balance sheet and the enduring support of our sector groups, through the has meant that this purchase was many members and of course our employment of an additional fully funded from reserves, ensuring strategic partner the Ministry for Sector Group Co-ordinator the organisation has not incurred the Environment. So thank you to • The establishment of the any debt. you all. As always, if there’s ever WasteMINZ Strategic Investment anything you want to discuss, please Fund, whereby organisational don’t hesitate to get in touch.
27269_O-I NZ Glass Revolve HP Ad_Outlines.indd 1 8/04/14 12:48 PM Ministry for the Environment www.mfe.govt.nz Tackling the review of the waste disposal levy
Every three years we ask the This identified a series of underlines the importance of question: has the waste disposal outcomes that we would see, over developing a data collection system levy been effective? Over the past time, if the levy is operating as it was that will allow us to review progress four months, a small project team at designed to. By using this framework, at any point along the way. the Ministry has been busy working the 2014 review focuses on whether On a brighter note, the levy on answering this question. the purposes of the WMA are being review is an opportunity to capture The first time we asked the achieved and, if not, why not. existing information, for example question was in 2011. At that time, the results of the Territorial Authority the waste levy had only been in The process Survey of Waste Infrastructure and existence for two years and the Our work on the levy review has Services in 2011 and 2013, and to answer was – it’s too early to say. generally followed these five phases: identify evidence gaps that can This time around, we are looking in detail at the impact the levy is having on the ground and – where Gather and Draw possible – identifying ways it could What are the key collect data What’s the data conclusions What could we questions and what telling us? do to improve our data do we need to What progress have progress? be improved. answer them What’s happening “on the ground”? we made towards By requiring the Minister for the Plan the Analyse the intended outcomes? Recommend approach data improvements Environment to regularly evaluate how the levy is going, the Waste Minimisation Act (2008) allows the Government to adapt and respond The challenge to issues and outcomes as they contribute towards better data unfold. we face collection in the future. On the The lack of available data on waste horizon is a project which aims to Our approach presents a significant challenge for create a framework for capturing in 2014 the levy review team. To measure waste data in a reliable and consistent way across the waste A good evaluation of a project or the impact of the levy on the sector in New Zealand. The National policy needs to identify what we ground, we need good data on Waste Data Framework project is really want to know and how to find waste disposal overall, the amount being led by WasteMINZ. that out. Before we can evaluate of waste being recycled and how effective the levy has been recovered in New Zealand, and the infrastructure and services that Learning from to-date, we have to define what others is meant by ‘effective’. In other are available. Understanding the words, we have to be clear what impact of a regulatory instrument, In the absence of comprehensive the intended result is (or was). To such as the waste disposal levy, waste data in New Zealand, and to establish a clear understanding is dependent on robust, almost understand what outcomes we might of this, the 2011 levy review team real-time information, says Daniel expect to see from our levy, we are developed an ‘expected outcomes’ Skinner-Du Plessis, the Ministry’s looking to international examples. framework (see Figure 1). Senior Evaluator who is assisting the levy review project team. This
10 Figure 1: Outcomes framework for the waste disposal levy There are now approximately 20 11. The environment is protected from 12. Environmental, social, economic and landfill taxes (the equivalent of our harm through waste minimisation and a cultural benefits are provided through decrease in waste disposal. waste minimisation and a decrease in waste disposal levy) operating in the waste disposal. European Union and similar waste disposal levies operating in four states in Australia. The consistent 10. Waste minimisation is achieved.
Long-term outcomes Long-term trends identified in these jurisdictions offer us useful insights into the 9. People dispose of less waste and minimise more waste, particularly harmful waste. outcomes we can expect to see here in New Zealand.
7. Waste minimisation is encouraged Where to and promoted. from here 8. The public appropriately responds to
Mid-term outcomes Mid-term 6. Waste minimisation infrastructure price signals. Over the next weeks we’ll be and services are improved. finalising the review findings, including incorporating feedback 4. Funds are 5. Funds are from the recent levy review allocated to allocated to workshop at the April WasteMINZ territorial projects (to promote or authorities (to 3. The cost of waste disposal is Roundup. The Minister will obtain achieve waste spend on matters increased (to recognise that disposal minimisation). and consider the advice of the to promote or imposes costs on the environment, achieve waste society and the economy). Waste Advisory Board before minimisation). completing the review by 1 July 2014. Short-term outcomes Short-term 2. Revenue is raised (for promoting and achieving waste minimisation).
1. A levy is imposed on waste disposed of at a disposal facility. (The levy is paid to the levy collector), Activity
Valentino Luna Hernandez Having worked on the implementation of the Solid Waste Bylaw at Auckland Council for close to two years, Valentino moved to the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Compliance team in February. Valentino brings over seven years of experience in environmental compliance to help the Ministry deliver the WMA compliance assurance programme. The focus of this programme is to monitor Disposal Facilities, Territorial Authorities and recipients of the Waste Minimisation Fund. Valentino has an academic interest in waste as a place-maker, studying the interactions of the community, industry and government sectors around the issue of waste. By Paul Evans, CEO WasteMINZ 12 12 LOOKING FOR A GLASS GRANT?
The Forum is committed to ensuring that as much waste container glass as possible is diverted from landfill and put to an effective use. It recognises that this can only be achieved if there is input into the critical areas of infrastructure, education of the community and co-operation with local commercial recyclers and local authorities. In some locations it may be necessary to utilise recovered glass locally or upgrade infrastructure to improve glass quality and/or the tonnages recycled. hen you’re running aspects of society to become more Councils and community groups are a multi-day festival sustainable. The Splore community invited to apply for funding to assist for close to 7,000 is an aware bunch and we were in a glass recycling projects. Refer to the people in a pristine unique position to respond through Forum’s website for the application form and the criteria for grants. andW much loved regional park, it the sustainability initiatives at Splore Funding projects to date include: stands to reason that you need 2014 and beyond. Our aspirational • Infrastructure to collect quality glass to approach sustainability and in goal is for Splore to be New for remanufacture into new containers particular waste, with far more care Zealand’s first zero waste festival”, • Support infrastructure to collect and attention than your usual run says Dave. glass at community events of the mill event, and that’s exactly Splore has always been strongly • Trials of glass as a substitute for what the passionate team at Splore focussed on sustainability, but Dave sand in golf courses/sports fields have done. and the team knew that significant • Engineering report on glass in Situated in a beguiling bay on improvements could still be made. building slab construction the shores of Tapapakanga Regional One such case was the 55,000 one • The separation at source bin for single Park, the biennial three-day Splore use cups that were sent to landfill at collections with glass separate festival uses its pristine environment Splore 2012. Dave was convinced • Modification of MD4 specifications to allow glass in road construction as a ‘platform to educate and inspire they could do much better. “We attendees through the festival wanted to break the mould for Funding project guide: Making a Difference in the Community kaupapa of contributing to the events” says Dave. is available on request well-being of the planet by creating There were four key prongs to transformational experiences’. improving waste management at Simply put Splore is a boutique Splore, these included: music and arts festival like no other. We talked to Dave Watson, Splore’s sustainability manager about their innovative approach to event waste management for the 1 2014 event, which yielded some Precycling truly impressive results. Precycling is the simple principle of When asked what sits at the thinking more carefully about the heart of Splore’s approach to waste products you buy, and the packaging management Dave says that the they come in. If you precycle, you core ethos for the festival was to avoid products with excess or over- “love and respect your Splore sized packaging, buy products space, leave no trace.” that will last, and reuse previous “We live in a time where purchases as much as possible. GET IN TOUCH WITH increasing demand for natural John Webber resources is putting pressure on all [email protected] www.glassforum.org.nz
may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \
Photo: E mma Bass 13 “Through all of our vendors knew where to go to get communication channels and in compostable products. We also particular our social media we asked gave them the flexibility to source our community to give real thought their own suppliers, so long as we to what they were bringing to the approved it ahead of time”. festival and then strip it back to the Splore initiated a ‘Green Trader’ bare essentials. We urged them to award in partnership with Conscious put the food they were bringing into Consumers to encourage all the reusable containers and to recycle vendors to actively participate and any packaging at home. Most to celebrate their success. importantly we asked them take what they bring into Splore home with them at the end. The last thing we wanted to happen was a repeat of the horrendous waste seen at 3 other multi-day festivals” says Dave. Globelets - a sustainable cup [Editor’s Note: You can see a video with a twist of the heart-breaking levels of waste from Rhythm and Alps 2013 here: 55,000 one use cups were sent to http://bit.ly/festivalwaste] landfill during Splore 2012, which was completely at odds with the aspiration of zero waste. So in 2014 they introduced a reusable polypropylene drinking vessel called 2 a ‘Globelet’. 100% Compostable Festival goers purchased a at Splore globelet with their first drink for $2 and it could then be used again and One of the main contributing factors again at the festival at all bars, drinks to the Splore waste stream in the stations and when purchasing a drink past was single use food waste from vendors. There were also refund contaminated non-compostable stations so people could return the packaging and serving utensils. cup and get their $2 back if they Having varying types of serving didn’t want to hold onto them. If they ware created a mixed waste stream wanted to give them a clean they that confused festival goers and could head to Ecommater’s ‘Wash was difficult to sort. To overcome against Waste’ station. The festival this all serving and packaging items also engaged Orere Point Primary as at Splore 2014 had to be certified a wash service to keep the globelets 100% compostable, but logistically in circulation. this was no easy feat. Dave says “the globelets and Dave says “To make this work the deposit system were a total win we had to get all of our food for all involved. For our bars and vendors on board. This was a real vendors it was perfect as it was a no challenge, as in many cases they cost solution, so they actually saved already thought they were doing money. the right thing by using recyclable Our sponsors Phoenix, Tiger, products. So we made it as easy as and Jagermeister instigated some possible for them by developing very cool designs for these cups, a preferred supplier arrangement making them a real piece of festival (with WasteMINZ member Kevin memorabilia and festival goers who Graham from Friendlypak) so that didn’t want to keep them could
14 Photos 1 2 + 4: Jason Burgess/burgseye get a refund when they returned all resources were recovered and their cup. There were even a cleaned before heading off site to few enterprising young kids who the end user. gathered up any discarded globelets dave's keeping the site impeccably clean Results keys to and making themselves some This rigorous approach yielded success pocket money in the process”. some truly amazing outcomes. On the Saturday of the festival, the results from the 10 manned ACZWA waste stations were: Develop a vision • Compostables: 442.13kg or of success and a 4 70.5% Getting it sorted • Recyclables: 131.32kg or 21% strategy to get you The primary task of the waste • Landfill waste: 53.60kg or 8.5% management plan was to stop there • Total weight 627.05kg unnecessary waste to landfill, whilst • 91.5% diversion from landfill also keeping the site spotlessly clean. Be bold and take To do this Splore partnered with Diversion from landfill for the ACZWA (Auckland Community Zero entire festival was an impressive 73 calculated risks Waste Alliance) and Clean Event Ltd percent, with much of this waste to make sure that any waste items coming out of the camp sites on ended up in the right place. ACZWA the Sunday. To a large extent this Constantly had 10 manned waste stations at key was outside of the organisers’ points of the Splore site where they control, as it was what people had communicate with educated attendees on what goes brought with them. where and why. All waste stations When asked to summarise the your stakeholders, consisted of three bins: recycling, Splore experience Dave says “our compostable and landfill waste. With key success was the huge reduction take them on your in landfill waste when compared to a little guidance from the friendly journey ACZWA experts the festival was able past festivals. We’ve now proven to avoid too many mix ups. our model and set a benchmark for “By having waste stations all future Splore events and other Partner with manned, it helped to separate the events to build upon. In the process waste at source, another added we were also able to create an subject experts but unforeseen benefit was that it amazingly positive environment, a allowed us to pick up any exceptions festival culture where littering was who share your very early on. For example we frowned upon and where recycling had a vendor who had run out and composting was the norm.” vision and want to of compostable containers and started using old stock which wasn’t see you succeed compostable. The volunteers quickly picked this up, so we could put a Most importantly solution in place” says Dave. Dave adds “festival goers surround yourself seemed to really appreciate the interface with the ACZWA team, with passionate the feedback was overwhelmingly Dave Watson is an Auckland-based sustainability consultant and trainee associate of the Natural positive”. Step. He recently completed a Graduate Diploma people To be completely sure that there in Sustainable Practice at Otago Polytechnic was no unnecessary waste the with a background in energy efficiency, zero waste events and developing sustainable entire Splore waste stream was then communities. To find out more about Splore’s sorted by Clean Event at the main approach to sustainability you can contact Dave sorting station 'Trash Palace' where on [email protected].
may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 15 20 years of recycling at Fisher & Paykel
By Simon Wilkinson, Consultant (on behalf of Plastics New Zealand)
1616 ince 1993 Fisher & department dismantle appliances, Paykel Appliances has and components are separated been doing its bit as a according to their different responsible brand-owner materials. Sby recycling old whiteware and The world-renowned smart diverting thousands of tonnes of drives from Fisher & Paykel washing material away from New Zealand machines are removed intact landfills. Fisher & Paykel has been and sent to a company called one of New Zealand’s most iconic Eco Innovation, who use them to brands since its origins in the make a low-cost, domestic-scale, 1930’s. This iconic status brings hydro electricity generator. One corporate responsibilities, including Eco Innovation PowerSpout can a commitment to reduce the produce more than 8,000 kWh company’s environmental footprint. per year — enough to power an New Zealanders can usually average household. recycle old whiteware through their Plastic components from local council. However, many also collected appliances are separated 20 use the Fisher & Paykel recycling into their different polymers to service through which they can enable easier recycling. In total drop off any brand of appliance around 10 tonnes a month of for free at locations in Auckland, plastic is recycled by the Fisher & Wellington and Christchurch. Paykel recycling operation. Plastics Outside of these main cities, Fisher recycled include PVC, ABS, PC, & Paykel offers free take-back of Nylon, PP, LDPE, HDPE and Noryl. appliances through their retail Some of these plastics are also partners when a new F&P appliance broken down into natural and is being purchased. coloured to further enable quality On average, around 25,000 recycling. appliances are recycled through the Fisher & Paykel’s design team Fisher & Paykel recycling programme ensure that all plastic components every year. This means that over in their appliances can be identified the past 20 years the company has by labelling them according to the diverted more than half a million international standard ISO1043. appliances, or 30,000 tonnes of This helps recyclers visually identify material, away from landfill. the different polymers to enable Despite the complexity of good material separation and the appliances and the variety maximise recycling potential. of materials used in them, the Every designer at Fisher & majority of material is recovered Paykel gains an understanding for recycling. Fisher & Paykel’s of the need to consider the recycling process recovers 95 recyclability of their products percent of material from stoves, shortly after joining the company 85 percent from dishwashers, 80 when they are given an induction percent from laundry appliances tour of the recycling operation. and 70 percent of the material in The fact that the company has a refrigerators. recycling operation at the same Items are collected at stores site where their appliances are around the country then shipped designed also makes it easy for to the nearest recycling centre product developers to work closely in Auckland, Wellington and with those that fully understand the Christchurch. In Auckland, the four implications of design decisions for staff members of the recycling end of life management.
may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 17 Public Place Recycling Scheme EVENTS & CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Capital Projects Events Does your application cover the For support with funding, does following: your event cover the following
Allocations will be based on whether the project allocations:
meets one or more of the following criteria: Allocations will be based on whether the project • Tourist locations with high density visitor meets one or more of the following criteria: populations • Focus on family and children • Open to a large • Communities which do not currently have number of the public recycling facilities • Keeping our waterways clean and green • Keeping our waterways clean and green • Promoting recycling at sporting initiatives • High traffic areas such as transport hubs, • Involving members of the PPRS as sponsors educational institutions, shopping centres, • Delivering programme which will promote Love DHB’s, sports and entertainment venues, tourist NZ to the public through branding on recycling attractions bins, promotional materials, communications etc. • Delivering programme which will promote Love NZ to the public through branding on recycling bins, promotional materials, communications etc.
For more information please email Donna at [email protected] Separated plastics are sent from F&P to plastics recycling company Key Astron Plastics in East Tamaki. Astron processes the HDPE, LDPE, Actions polypropylene, ABS, polycarbonate and polystyrene from Fisher and 25,000 appliances Paykel at their plant here in New Zealand. Some of the less common recycled each and difficult to recycle plastics are sent overseas for recycling. year Polystyrene and ABS make up about two-thirds of the F&P plastics recycled by Astron. These Smart drives are granulated then extruded then re-pelletised for sale to plastics converted into manufacturers as an alternative to low cost hydro virgin material for use in products, such as plastic chairs. electricity Other polymers are processed in a similar way by Astron, then generators may be blended with additives and colourants before being remanufactured by Astron into Plastic cablecover. Around 80 percent of the plastic Astron recycles for F&P components ends up in products here in NZ. The remaining material is sold to separated into manufacturers overseas. different polymers After the plastics and smart drives are removed from the to enable easier appliances, the remaining parts of the recycled appliances are sent recycling to Sims Pacific Metals where they are processed through their large shredder to extract metals for Remaining parts recycling. In addition to recycling their processed through products, Fisher & Paykel have shredder to recently introduced a company- wide waste minimisation extract metals for programme. Staff rubbish bins have been replaced with small recycling receptacles and large recycling stations throughout the site. Paper towels in the bathrooms are all Company- collected and taken, along with Simon Wilkinson is a consultant who specialises in working with business on practical environmental wide waste food waste from the canteen, by projects including waste minimisation, energy Transpacific for composting. Even efficiency and pollution. though it is early days for their Plastics New Zealand is the industry association minimisation office recycling system, Fisher & for plastics manufacturers in New Zealand. It works constantly to improve plastics recycling in programme Paykel are diverting 17.5 tonnes New Zealand by connecting manufacturers and per month, or 65 percent of the brand-owners with recyclers and plastics experts. waste they generate. Further information on www.plastics.org.nz.
may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 19 people, pass & wasteion Auckland Council's creation of a movement for change
By Paul Evans, CEO WasteMINZ
Richelle Kahui-McConnell, leader of the Para Kore ki Tamaki Project, at Orakei Marae
2020 uckland Council has set a Initially many thought the goal to become the world’s proposed changes, particularly Amost liveable city and a key the introduction of disposer pays, part of achieving this is targeting were unfair. But the Council’s zero waste by 2040. enquiry based approach soon No doubt it’s a lofty ambition got the people thinking and the that would scare many, but the conversation changed markedly. Council’s waste team are engaging People started asking, what happens with their communities to help to our waste? Where does it go? create a movement for real and The Council then organised sustainable change. bus trips for community leaders to the Waitakere refuse transfer Link to WMMP station. These trips helped people Working with you for a greener tomorrow This movement for change is one of get to grips with the magnitude of seven distinct projects established Auckland’s waste challenge (each under the Council’s Waste week Auckland produces enough waste to cover a rugby field as high Management and Minimisation Plan EnviroWaste Services Limited (WMMP). Through the development as the goalposts) and also inspired provides complete solutions for the of the WMMP, elected members and motivated them when they saw environmentally safe management expressed that it was vitally the huge potential for reuse and the and disposal of waste people, important that the council prepare related community benefits. its communities for the coming Social Enterprise changes in services and in particular Specific areas for the transition to disposer pays. in Otara of expertise include: passion Furthermore the project also One of the communities the Council seeks to facilitate opportunities has been working very closely with • Recycling/Recovery for community-driven reduce, and who have wholeheartedly Solutions & waste reuse, recycle and renew initiatives embraced the zero waste vision is by working in ways that achieve Otara. Otara is a diverse community • Waste Collection positive social, cultural, economic situated 18 kilometres to the • Bulk Waste and environmental outcomes. The southeast of the Auckland CBD near Transfer Operations project is focussed on particular the head of the Tamaki River. Otara communities, where it was identified has a strong historical connection • Waste Disposal at Landfills the impact of the changes would be to waste, due to its proximity to the and Transfer Stations By Paul Evans, CEO WasteMINZ felt the most. now closed Greenmount landfill. Otara has around 160 • Landfill Design Community neighbourhood support groups; • Leachate Control Engagement with these groups taking a much and Monitoring A fundamental part of the Council’s broader role than safety alone, they approach was early engagement are about community development, • Landfill Post-Closure with the community, finding out knowing your neighbours, creating Aftercare what they thought the issues, connections and developing • Hazardous Waste challenges and opportunities neighbourhood-led solutions. Treatment and Disposal might be and just as importantly The Council has partnered with Otara Health, a charitable finding out what was already • Contaminated Site organisation which supports the happening out there. This was done Remediation through targeting a wide range groups, to help these groups to of organisations; from community learn fundamental skills in relation to • Stormwater Monitoring groups to churches and passionate growing their own food, minimising • Landfill Gas Extraction, community leaders, the Council food waste, composting and Processing and Monitoring went wherever there was energy and recycling. interest. continued on page 23
0800 240 120 may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 21 www.envirowaste.co.nz
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Conditions of this promotion are:
• PCBs must be removed from lighting systems or fittings and rendered safe, prior to TTS accepting possession. • This promotion is limited to the collection and disposal of 12 tonnes (maximum packaged weight) of PCB waste. There are significant quantities of PCBs • This PCB elimination and disposal promotion expires still remaining in New Zealand, despite March 2015. • All applicants under this promotion must register with legislation being in place since 2004 TTS. To register phone Carolyn Armstrong on 0800 PCB prohibiting their use or storage. WASTE. • Acceptance approvals will be issued by TTS prior to pick-up. • Any applicant currently on EPA’s PCB register must This promotion is focused mainly on disclose this status. the disposal of small PCB containing • Free collection and disposal will be applied on a first come first served basis. capacitors, typically found in older style • TTS will assist applicants with information on identifying fluorescent lighting ballasts. PCBs and on any requirements concerning PCB storage, handling, registration, transport and disposal. • TTS retains sole discretion as to whether or not to accept TTS is offering this service forFREE , PCB waste and is not obligated to accept waste it considers enabling you to off-set the cost of outside the promotion’s objectives. TTS is able to provide more information to help identify suspect having your lights checked and capacitors and ballasts in PCBs. Further information on PCBs is upgraded. Further savings can be made available on the websites below; 1. Safe Management of PCBs Code of Practice publication is with modern energy efficient lighting. on the MOH website: http://www.moh.govt.nz 2. Phasing out Small PCB Holdings is on ERMA website: Transformers and other items of http://www.ermanz.govt.nz
electrical equipment containing PCBs This promotion is made possible by a grant from the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund, managed by the Ministry for the are also eligible. Environment. TTS also acknowledges Tredi NZ Ltd as its PCB offshore disposal agent and promotion partner. A FREE nationwide service to ‘FREE’ PCB collect and safely dispose of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) DISPOSAL! Furthermore the council has council view is offered by Transpacific Technical Call 0800 PCB WASTE worked with church and community leaders to create waste champions This project has been led by Jenny Services (NZ) Ltd (TTS) who act as local advocates. One Chilcott, Auckland Council’s project such champion is the Reverend manager Special Community Ifaleme Teisi from the Free Church Engagement Project. Whilst of Tonga, who has a vision for his Jenny freely admits it has been a church to be sustainable. He is now challenging process and that the a fully trained composting tutor work to date is really just the tip teaching his parishioners how to of the iceberg, she firmly believes bokashi and advising them how to they are setting the foundations separate recyclables. for change led by the community Social Enterprise and the itself. “Yes these groups need the concept of “waste to employment” council’s support, but they can do Conditions of this promotion are: is another theme which has come a far better job than we ever could through loud and clear. Examples on our own, local people bring • PCBs must be removed from lighting systems or fittings include Habitat for Humanity’s reuse passion, relationships and credibility. and rendered safe, prior to TTS accepting possession. shop ReStore, which takes in old Through this project we have been • This promotion is limited to the collection and disposal of and unwanted goods donated by strengthening relationships between 12 tonnes (maximum packaged weight) of PCB waste. the community and sells them on the Council and the community, we have been fostering greater There are significant quantities of PCBs • This PCB elimination and disposal promotion expires at affordable prices. Not only does collaboration and it is also positively March 2015. this prevent the goods from going still remaining in New Zealand, despite changing the perception of council • All applicants under this promotion must register with to landfill, but it also enables more Habitat for Humanity homes to be so we are now seen as more of a legislation being in place since 2004 TTS. To register phone Carolyn Armstrong on 0800 PCB partner with the community”. WASTE. built within the local community. prohibiting their use or storage. As Habitat for Humanity’s Conrad When asked what has worked • Acceptance approvals will be issued by TTS prior to pick-up. Lapoint says “every sale to us bangs well Jenny says “I think importantly • Any applicant currently on EPA’s PCB register must a nail, which helps us build more we have been meeting people on This promotion is focused mainly on disclose this status. homes year on year”. their own ground, engaging them in the disposal of small PCB containing • Free collection and disposal will be applied on a first come Yet another organisation meaningful conversations and taking first served basis. working closely with the council to an action focussed approach. We’ve worked in a holistic way and have capacitors, typically found in older style • TTS will assist applicants with information on identifying embrace the related employment provided learning opportunities PCBs and on any requirements concerning PCB storage, opportunities is Crosspower fluorescent lighting ballasts. so that we increase capacity and handling, registration, transport and disposal. Ministries, whose goal is to reach youth at risk, engage them and strengthen community leadership. • TTS retains sole discretion as to whether or not to accept influence them for better outcomes. This means that the change will TTS is offering this service forFREE , PCB waste and is not obligated to accept waste it considers Sei Brown, general manager of hopefully continue long after the outside the promotion’s objectives. enabling you to off-set the cost of Crosspower says “this whole project is over. Most importantly TTS is able to provide more information to help identify suspect recycling journey is more than it has been about Council taking having your lights checked and capacitors and ballasts in PCBs. Further information on PCBs is just taking trash and putting it in a step back, just being the available on the websites below; the right place, it is actually a real support partner and keeping the upgraded. Further savings can be made At 'Skill Share' waste champions from across 1. Safe Management of PCBs Code of Practice publication is communities well and truly in the community building exercise. Not the region come together to share knowledge driver’s seat”. with modern energy efficient lighting. on the MOH website: http://www.moh.govt.nz only does it build young people, but and skills. 2. Phasing out Small PCB Holdings is on ERMA website: it brings the community to a point Next steps Waste Champion Rev Ifalame Teisi from the Transformers and other items of http://www.ermanz.govt.nz where conversations happen. The Free Church of Tonga in Favona, Mangere. passion of people to do something, The Council is currently developing an evaluation framework to identify electrical equipment containing PCBs This promotion is made possible by a grant from the Government’s especially with waste will change Waste Minimisation Fund, managed by the Ministry for the the community, it’ll give kids the impact of the project and we will are also eligible. Environment. jobs, and it’ll help young people endeavour to keep you updated as TTS also acknowledges Tredi NZ Ltd as its PCB offshore disposal agent understand the relationship between the project progresses. and promotion partner. themselves, our community and For more on what’s happening in nature.” Otara be sure to check out this short film http://bit.ly/otarawaste.
may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 23 Restaurant food waste: identifying the sources & causes By Tess Drewitt, Environmental Consultant
he UNFAO and Waste Scale of the a massive share of the global Resources Institute has problem restaurant market and generally Testimated that, each year, have a large number of franchises we lose or waste around 30 – 50 Increasingly, restaurants are seen and outlets that, working together, percent of food intended for human as part of the food waste problem. could substantially reduce global consumption somewhere along In the European Union (EU), for food waste. However, food waste the food supply chain. This waste example, the food service industry prevention measures in global results in substantial resource contributes towards an estimated restaurant chains are, by no inefficiencies, financial loss and 14 percent of post-agricultural means, a one size fits all solution. social hardship. While food waste production food waste — 9 Even restaurants operating within management goes a long way percent more than wholesale and the same framework must have towards reducing the environmental supermarkets. In China alone, prevention measures tailored impacts of food waste disposal, it restaurants throw away enough depending on the circumstances only addresses part of the problem. food each year to feed an estimated of each specific restaurant to be Reducing the life-cycle impacts 200 million people. Any efforts effective and efficient. Global food of food waste instead requires a made by restaurants to prevent waste prevention programmes are preventative approach, and a much food waste — by both changing thus difficult to implement. more thorough understanding of their practices and influencing I discovered this first-hand the sources and causes of food those of their customers — would when conducting research on the waste than traditional food waste go a long way towards reducing sources and causes of food waste management. food waste globally. Restaurants, in one of the world’s largest fast like households, have the added casual restaurant chains (a type of incentive of saving money through restaurant that operates in a similar improved efficiencies. way to fast food restaurants like Global restaurant chains are McDonalds, but has a higher quality particularly interesting. They hold of food and service). I wanted to
24 understand what makes some customers, with the remaining food purchase costs, disposal costs, and restaurants produce high levels waste being produced either in the money spent on energy, water and of food waste, while others only kitchen or serving line. staff for processing and cooking produce a little, and how food waste I was told, and discovered for wasted food) showed that the could affect restaurants financially. myself, that the Chinese customers European restaurants were performing I also wanted to examine whether were leaving so much food behind better financially by producing less food waste prevention programmes because of the Chinese eating food waste. The Swedish restaurant could be global within the same culture. Traditionally, Chinese people was spending an estimated 3 percent restaurant chain, or whether they tend to order more food than they of daily turnover on avoidable food should vary according to cultural need as a sign of affluence, and waste, while the Chinese restaurants settings to be effective. prefer variety over ordering just one were spending up to 15 percent. Even meal. When faced with a Western- though the Swedish restaurant was cultural style menu, the Chinese consumers already producing much less food differences continued to order a variety of main waste, these findings highlighted menu items, and subsequently the potential for future savings from To answer these questions, left large amounts of food behind. continued food waste prevention I visited four of the chain’s most The restaurants encouraged this programmes. prominent (and culturally different) behaviour by serving portions that restaurants — two in China, one in were much larger than those served NEXT STEPS Sweden and another in Holland. At in their European counterparts. each restaurant, I examined food This research provides a good case Larger sizes were generally waste streams to understand the study example on the importance maximised with rice or potatoes. sources and causes of food waste. of understanding the source, cause, I looked at where waste was being RE-USING FOOD quantity and composition of food produced (in the kitchen, storage, waste so as to develop effective and serving line, or by customers), and There was also an interesting efficient waste prevention strategies. why (for example poor storage difference between the Swedish It also provides an indication of conditions, inaccurate forecasting or and Dutch restaurants. The Swedish the potential for full cost savings too large portions). restaurant produced 70 percent of as a result of prevention strategies. The first thing I noticed was its food waste in the serving line Making small changes to portion how much food waste the Chinese (i.e. food that was prepared, but sizes or main menu offerings could restaurants were producing: an wasn’t served), compared to 40 go a long way towards reducing estimated 2½ – 5 times more percent in the Dutch restaurant. I food waste in one restaurant, per customer than the European found this was probably due to the whereas addressing forecasting and restaurants. One Chinese restaurant different approaches between the legally reusing food in the kitchen was producing an estimated 1,500kg two restaurants to reusing serving would be more suitable for another. of food waste per day! The main food. The Swedish restaurant was You can find a full copy difference between the restaurants routinely throwing all serving food of my research, including the was the amount of food waste the waste away, whereas the Dutch methodologies, here: http://www. Chinese customers left behind restaurant was identifying ways of lunduniversity.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=24923 on their plates. In the Chinese reusing the serving food in other &postid=4080877. restaurants, customers were leaving meals. Both restaurants advised behind (and thus wasting) up to 30 they were operating under strict percent of the food they ordered, food health and safety guidelines, and 90 percent of all food waste so I could only assume the Swedish produced in the restaurant came restaurant found it more convenient from the customers, as opposed to to throw food away (under the guise food waste produced in the kitchen. of food health and safety) than to In Sweden and Holland, however, identify ways to reuse. customers were only leaving behind an estimated 3–8 percent of their FINANCIAL SAVINGS Tess Drewitt conducted this research as part meals, and only 30–60 percent of My calculation of the estimated of her Master’s degree in Environmental all food waste was produced by full costs of food waste (including Management and Policy. Tess is now employed by Jacobs SKM as an environmental consultant.
may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 25 More for your money: choose social enterprise so society profits
By Sue Coutts, Wanaka Wastebusters
26 26 Billy Matheson from Auckland Council weighs up the merits of polystyrene recycling. Photo: Simon Williams
Maybe we do all This shift created the problem of how to preserve a focus on have something delivering the blend of social, to thank Margaret environmental and economic outcomes the contracts were put Thatcher for. out for in the first place. How could She opened the door for the a healthy balance be maintained privatisation of the waste industry between profit seeking and the by introducing the idea of using common good? Social enterprise private enterprise to deliver public could be the answer. services that had previously been provided by government. Baby steps The rationale was that involving Our Government has taken its first the private sector would lower steps into the social enterprise costs as introducing competition landscape. On Valentine’s Day would drive gains in efficiency Community and Voluntary Sector and productivity. She was looking Minister Jo Goodhew launched the for ways to go beyond the either/ government’s position statement or options available for service on social enterprise. She also delivery at the time; state or announced $1.27m to be used private enterprise. As always by the Hikurangi Foundation to charities were busy mopping up work with existing and emerging people and problems that fell social enterprises to accelerate between the cracks. their development. It was welcome The idea was that competition news but New Zealand is still could be harnessed to deliver trailing a decade behind others public value as well as private around the world, which have been profit. The problem was that the backing social enterprise for some mechanisms used to procure goods years now. and services didn’t prioritise public In typical New Zealand fashion good outcomes. A race to the we were ahead of the wave back bottom ensued, with contractors in 2002 when social enterprise incentivised to promise to deliver and social entrepreneurship were less, for a lower price, so they being championed by the Tindall would have a chance of winning Foundation and the Community the job. Employment Group (CEG).
may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 27 But sadly we got cold feet and Tens of millions of dollars procure goods and services. abandoned the idea just at the time have been invested with the Public Social Partnerships it was rapidly rising up the policy aim of delivering social impact. (PSP’s) between community and agenda in the USA, the UK and New models of procurement that government are being used in Australia. deliver a blend of social, economic the UK to develop best practice Looking back from here it’s easy and environmental value are delivery models, pilot them, and to say we should have toughed it out. being piloted and developed by work out any bugs and glitches By way of example CEG invested in government and business. The before putting these jobs out the future of community recycling social enterprise sector is growing to tender. This incorporates organisations as a job creation at a much faster rate than the SME a coproduction model into strategy. It worked. CEG put $70,000 sector despite a tough economic procurement so the needs of in capacity building into Wanaka climate. service users are at the heart of the Wastebusters during the first three In the UK the last 10 years process. years of operation. Wastebusters has have seen a massive increase Di Jennings' recent report1 sent $2.64 million back over the last in awareness of and support for on social enterprise activity in 12 years in PAYE and GST. Not a bad the ‘Third Sector’, as they call it. Aotearoa NZ for the Community return on investment. Hundreds of millions have been Economic Development Trust invested in capacity building and documents critical issues for the Trailing in the sector support. Scotland has been sector. She also describes the footsteps leading the way, popularising the potential for social enterprise to use of community benefit clauses help resolve some of our country’s For the last 10 years Australian in contracts to ensure broader big problems, for example federal and state governments value is delivered by contractors. around resource conservation and have been cranking up support This has been backed by the Public depletion and social and economic networks and actively fostering the Services (Social value) Act 2012 inequality. Her report provides a development of social enterprise which places a duty on public manifesto which outlines a pathway through organisations like Social bodies to improve wellbeing Traders, based in Melbourne. 1 Community Economic Development: Understanding outcomes when they buy and the New Zealand Context. Jan 2014.
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28 www.hill-laboratories.com that would ensure the growth of in a better future for their people good. Social enterprise puts social enterprise in New Zealand. and their place. business to work for the common Growth can be a good thing if it These changes are music to good so that it’s society as a whole is accompanied by benefits and the ears of community recyclers. that profits from enterprise and comes without the baggage of The value of the community investment. negative externalities. recyclers’ model has been proven around the country over the last Same old story 15 years. Community recyclers have done the hard yards out on It’s a familiar story. the fringes, working out how to How can we live deliver services that meet their lives that generate communities’ needs and deliver a blend of social, environmental a positive and economic value. Like the footprint? How remnant pockets of bush tucked away in remote gullies, community can we get more enterprise is poised to spread for our money? out across the landscape and recolonize the cities. Like the sun coming out after Social and community a nuclear winter, the Auckland enterprise may not have been Council is stepping up and exactly what she had in mind but championing a new way to deliver Margaret Thatcher’s vision of a a blend of social, economic and mixed economy paved the way environmental value for their for these new business models communities. They have joined the Sue Coutts has managed Wanaka to flourish. When business has dots between procurement, action Wastebusters since 2002 and has been a heart it’s possible to reconcile actively involved with the development of the and outcomes. They are investing profitability with the common Community Recycling Network since 2003.
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behaviour change Place Recycling Scheme, would be was well received by the Board and promoted, with councils encouraged they are in the process of seeking The technical working group to use these colours for their feedback on it from members. (TWG) for the National Food kerbside collections, public place After some hard work from Waste Prevention project is making and event recycling. the factsheets technical working progress in developing tools to group, they are nearly ready to understand food waste in New be published. They will be on the Zealand. Three different tools are Contaminated Land Management WasteMINZ website shortly, after being created. Kerbside bin audits some final edits. Thank you for your will enable the TWG to determine Online voting for the steering patience. how much food is being wasted; committee closed on 17 March 2014 The new steering committee will how much is avoidable, what kinds and the following individuals were meet on 22 May. Agenda items will of food are wasted the most and elected: Murray Arnold, Hastings include the steering committee’s how much food waste is costing us. District Council; Chris Bailey, Tonkin responsibilities, the group’s The first kerbside food waste & Taylor; Simon Beardmore, Otago work plan and the contaminated audits have just been completed Regional Council; Gregory Beck, land stream at the WasteMINZ and, as suspected from overseas Environment Canterbury; James conference. research, even low income families Corbett, Auckland Council; Kelly are throwing away food such as Deihl, Waikato District Council; health & safety chicken, bread and fruit which is still Graeme Proffitt, Pattle Delamore perfectly edible. Another tool which Partners; Martin Robertson, Z The eagerly anticipated (well, I is being developed is the kitchen Energy and Emma Trembath like to think so) Health and Safety diary. This is used with families to (AECOM). Congratulations! Guidelines: for the Solid Waste and find out what food they are throwing The WasteMINZ Board member Resource Recovery Sector - parts away, why and whether it is going assigned to the sector group is John one, two, three and four are nearly into the rubbish bin, compost or Dragicevich, from Auckland Council, at the end of their final editing down the drain and councils from and I will be coordinating the sector process (it takes a long time but around New Zealand are actively group. Thank you to the previous it is important to have a robust being invited to take part in this steering committee members, who document). Once this has been research. dedicated their time and expertise completed, the guidelines will An initial meeting of key to a very busy sector group. be published on the WasteMINZ stakeholders was held on 1 April On 20 March, Graeme Proffitt website. when attendees discussed and Simon Hunt, members of the A technical working group has progressing the standardisation NES Working Group, presented a now been formed to develop part of colours of mobile waste and strategy paper to the Environment five of the guidelines: landfills and recycling containers and recycling Institute of Australia and New the group is meeting on 28 April to symbols. It was agreed that the Zealand’s Certified Environmental review the first draft. adoption of colours, as specified in Practitioner (CEnvP) Board. The the Australian Standard AS 4123.7 paper outlined the criteria and and used in the Love NZ Public pathway for the scheme. The paper
30 Organic Materials of up to eight members, to enable be more strategically focussed, the forum to become more advancing planning and issues and The sector group currently has outcome-focussed. Nominations for will meet quarterly. WasteMINZ will three projects underway. A the steering committee closed on retain the teleconferencing group, technical working group is meeting 24 March 2014 and a total of eight which will meet approximately four regularly to plan a small research nominations were received, meaning times per year (potentially two study into Legionella Longbeachae, a formal voting process was not teleconferences and then face to whilst supporting a larger study required. The steering committee face at the conference and roundup), being proposed by Professor David are as follows: Brent Aitken, Taupo with all TAs invited to participate. Murdoch from the University of District Council; Ian Featherston, This will ensure that all TAs have the Otago. Members of the steering Dunedin City Council; Nienke opportunity to share information and committee are also involved in Itjeshorst, Kapiti Coast District bring issues to the table. They will a review of the guidelines for Council; Alec McNeil, Marlborough also act as a sounding board for the beneficial use of biosolids and District Council; Donna Peterson, steering committee. other organic materials applied WasteNet Southland; Gavin Sole, WasteMINZ would like to to land. At an initial meeting Selwyn District Council; Ian Stupple, congratulate the steering committee to determine the appropriate Auckland Council and David Wilson, members on their new roles and standards and specifications for Gisborne District Council. extend our sincere thanks to all those packaging that are compatible The WasteMINZ Board member who have contributed their valuable with New Zealand residual organic assigned to the forum is Dominic time to the TA Forum previously. material processing technologies, Salmon from Hastings District Council Jenny and I are in the process there was widespread agreement and Jenny Marshall, WasteMINZ’ of planning the next steps for the amongst attendees that there is a sector group coordinator, will be the TA Forum and we will keep you all need for clarity in this area. forum’s facilitator. It is pleasing to see posted. that the steering committee has a TA Forum good mix of representatives from the North and South Islands from both At the forum’s teleconference on 11 large and small territorial authorities. February the decision was made to The steering committee will formally elect a steering committee
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may 2014 \ WWW.WASTEMINZ.ORG.NZ \ 31 On behalf of Céline Cousteau, O-I is making a donation to the World Resources Institute’s Reefs at Risk Initiative.
Cousteau A3.indd 1 2/05/11 4:46 PM council ruapehu news REUSABLE new plymouth GROCERY BAG gisborne CHALLENGE Councillors in New Plymouth have Pack $30 of groceries into re-usable checkout voted to change the district's bags at New World in Taumarunui or Ohakune The Para Kore Zero Waste on & go into a draw to win a $50 voucher*. rubbish collection, which will place Marae programme will be piloted *A voucher to be won every week at both stores! a greater emphasis on recycling. on four marae in Ruatoria and Te + every shopper gets a FREE recycling fridge magnet with shopping pad! The monitoring committee Araroa over the next year thanks rejected an option that would have to a successful application to included the weekly collection of Gisborne District Council’s Waste 20 litres of organic waste, but said Bring your own reusable grocery bag or you can pick one up for only a $2 and get one FREE Minimisation Fund. With on- they would investigate food waste going support, the programme Ruapehu District Council is options in the future. will encourage and promote sometimes involved in campaigns If the organic waste collection widespread zero waste behaviour or competitions to help enhance was included in the new system on marae and throughout Maori and improve Ruapehu as a the council said it would be about communities within Te Tairawhiti. great place to live, work and seven dollars a year more in the Para Kore, which means zero play. The 'Re-usable Grocery first eight years, but from 2019 waste, is currently working with Bag Challenge' is a partnership onwards it would cost the same 50 marae across the country. between New World and the amount as the other new system. These marae are all diverting council and it is asking people to The option that included the between 50 percent and 85 think about their use of plastic separate collection of food waste percent of their waste from shopping bags and encouraging would mean the standard 60 litre landfill. The vision is that by 2020 the use of re-usable ones. bags of general waste would be all marae within Aotearoa will be Customers who buy $30 or more collected from the kerb every working towards zero waste. of groceries at New World in fortnight. Raising awareness about waste Ohakune or Taumarunui and use The new system, coupled with minimisation on marae creates a re-usable checkout bag go into the imminent loss of income from ripple effects back to homes, a draw to win a $50 New World the Colson Rd dump, will see workplaces and communities. voucher. They also receive a free ratepayers' rubbish bills jump from It will help normalise waste recycling fridge magnet with a $67 this year to $191 in 2019. minimisation behaviours as shopping bag. During the eight- week promotion reusable bags standard, everyday practice. New Plymouth District Council Media Release will be on sale for $2 per bag Stuff.co.nz and customers will also receive a free civil defence reusable bag for free. Five weeks into the palmerston north promotion 2,500 fridge magnets have been handed out with over From 28 April 2014 plastic bags will no longer be accepted in recycling bins or at 2,000 reusable bags bought and Palmerston North’s recycling drop off points. Council’s rubbish and recycling asset given away. engineer Natasha Simmons says unfortunately there is no longer an economically Ruapehu District Council Website viable market for the sale and recycling of plastic bags. However, if recycling of plastic bags becomes economic again Council will consider reintroducing the service. The 1, 2, 3 strikes campaign introduced by the council last August, aimed at Do you have educating residents to put the right things in their recycling bin, is proving a success council news with a 50 percent decrease in contamination rates. The campaign involved placing stickers on those recycling bins that contained contaminated items and stickers on to share? These are your pages – email items in the glass crates that aren't accepted. Jenny at [email protected] Palmerston North City Council Website and Media Release
32 environment canterbury
A recent study commissioned by there has been some improvement Environment Canterbury has shown in the management and disposal that while most farmers surveyed had of non-natural rural waste in an increased awareness of the issue of recent years, there is still room for rural waste and showed a willingness improvement as much of this waste is to “do the right thing’’, however 92 being retained on farms. percent of them still use traditional Ken Taylor, Environment Canterbury’s Remembering methods for the disposal of their director investigations and Tracey waste; burying waste in farm pits or monitoring, says the main reasons for nikora burning or bulk storing it, all of which continuing with traditional methods could potentially have an impact on appear to be a behaviour legacy and natural resources including land, air because the provision of rural waste Tracey Nikora arrived on the and water. services is generally poor. “More than WasteMINZ scene at the The study focused predominately half of those surveyed felt there was Palmerston North workshops in on non-natural wastes such as scrap definitely room for improvement in April 2011, as Tararua District metal, treated timber, agrichemicals, the way they managed their wastes,’’ Council’s waste and recycling plastic wrap as well as demolition and he says. “However they did feel it co-ordinator. Her enthusiasm domestic waste and it identified over was not just their responsibility to and thirst for knowledge was 50 different types of non-natural rural improve things. They want to see a immediately apparent. After waste streams. more collective and collaborative absorbing the information Canterbury has nearly 9,000 farms approach to dealing with rural waste, and meeting her peers at our covering approximately 2.8 million such as manufacturers having more workshops, she continued to hectares. Before the study, little was accountability for taking back their products and for district councils and leave no stone unturned in her known about the amount of waste waste companies to improve their search for the best recycling generated by these Canterbury waste recovery operations outside outcomes. Her commitment farming activities and how this waste is managed. The research shows that urban centres.’’ was apparent to all, along with of the 53 different farms surveyed, on Mr Taylor says most of the her obvious enjoyment in her average each produces around nine participants know about product role. She was an incredibly tonnes of non-natural rural waste a stewardship schemes such as vibrant, cheerful and kind year and an average of just under recycling silage wrap. However, many person, and it was with much 24 tonnes of total waste is produced farmers are confused about how the sadness that we heard of her annually per farm, including non- schemes operate and also cited cost death on 18 March 2014. Tracy natural, organic and domestic wastes. as a barrier to using these schemes. will be deeply missed by all Although farmers acknowledged that Environment Canterbury Media Release those who knew her.
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