Thursday 5 June 2019
The three Wairarapa councils are asking you to join them in doing “just one thing” for the good of the environment today to celebrate World Environment Day.
With everyone’s help, we can reduce the amount of waste going to our landfills. Wairarapa residents already do a great job with kerbside recycling, but there are some simple things we can all do to contribute more.
Zero waste coordinator for the three Wairarapa councils, Jo Dean, has been helping educate people on what can and can’t be recycled, and the ways we can avoid using materials which will end up in the landfill.
“Not all plastics are made the same,” said Jo.
“With the recycling markets constantly changing, there is currently nowhere in New Zealand or overseas our councils to send their plastics numbered 3-7’s to be processed for recycling, so they are either being stored or sent to landfill.
“Luckily, these plastics are things such as glad-wrap and single use plastic bags which make up less than 5% of what Wairarapa residents put in their recycling.”
An easy way to remember it is to think about plastics as b recyclable, reusable or disposable.
Plastics numbered 1 and 2, such as milk bottles and soft-drink bottles are recyclable, whereas single use soft plastic packaging is disposable.
“The good news is, we can all still buy our favourite products and just ask for them to be put into our reusable containers instead,” Jo said.
Simple things such as remembering to use a keep cup when you buy a takeaway coffee, taking your own container to the butcher or remembering your lunch box when buying takeaways at your local café are all simple ways we can reduce our waste to landfill.
The councils will be putting together handy recycle and reuse tips on their websites and Facebook pages this week, as well as an educational video on identifying what is recyclable, reusable and disposable. Keep an eye out for the competition which will reward people for their photos embracing the “just one thing” environment campaign, as well as a colouring-in competition for kids.
ENDS
Media contacts
Masterton District Council: Shanna Crispin shannac@mstn.govt.nz
Carterton District Council: Elisa Vorster elisa@cdc.govt.nz
South Wairarapa District Council: Amy Wharram comms@swdc.govt.nz
