Council offices used to send almost 60 tonnes of waste to landfill each year. A huge amount of that was paper — 60-65 per cent — so it was decided to look hard at this area for improvement.

Inspired by Timaru District Council’s in-house waste reduction programme, a zero waste to landfill minimisation scheme was brought in.

Changing old habits

The scheme allows staff members to recycle at their desk, in much the same way as people do at home. It also helps them to change a few old habits.

All rubbish bins in the offices were replaced by two recycling trays — one for mixed paper and one for clean and safe reusable items to be used by City Council Early Learning Centres and Creative Junk.

Any remaining landfill or organic material is collected in tea-room bins.

With no food waste in the bins at desks, cleaners only need to empty the two recycling trays once a week.

The system puts the onus on individuals to think about where their refuse will end up and ensure that the refuse is appropriately sorted.

Council Service Centres and Libraries have a similar waste minimisation scheme that provides staff with trolleys for reusable paper, paper for recycling and reusable items. Paper that is only used on one side goes to the bindery to be made into pads and tea-rooms have bins for food scraps.

What can you do?

• Use your recycling crate and know what can be recycled
• Take reusable items to the SuperShed, and buy from there too: Shuttle Drive, ph 381 6495
• Use Creative Junk (Early Childhood Resource Centre). It takes most of the items that our creches don’t take. Creative Junk is a non-profit organisation that collects recyclable products from all over the city takes it all to their premises at 24 Collins Street. It makes items available for children’s discovery and creative play. (it also sells artmaking products at cost)
• Creative Junk is open to the public and has a membership system. You can go along and fill up a bag for $5 for non-members or $4 for members. Phone 338 8047 for information