| Throwing everything
in the bin and endless
consumerism just aren't
sustainable options. But
there are a lot of alternatives,
so let's get creative
and make some positive
sustainable choices. |
| |
| Creative
waste reducing ideas |
| |
| Reduce
Think before you buy and
spend your money with
the environment in mind
- say no to plastic bags;
buy products that use
less or recycled
packaging; buy products
that contain recycled
material, and 'pre-cycle'
- if you can't recycle
it, then don't buy it.
Research the company you're
supporting with your hard-earned
dollar and support businesses
that are trying to reduce
their environmental impact.
More shopping
tips. |
| |
| Baby in the house? Try
cloth or biodegradable
nappies. Waitakere City
has a cloth
nappy education centre
to help get you started.
|
| |
| Reuse
As the saying goes 'One
person's trash is another
person's treasure'. So
give someone else a chance
to discover yours - support
companies that provide
opportunities for reuse,
consider buying second
hand for projects at home.
Think before you throw
- could it have a second
life? Can someone else
reuse it? Drop it off
at your local Salvation
Army or second hand shop,
or list your items on
one of the many 'reuse'
websites (see below) where
your 'stuff' will go to
a good home. You can de-clutter
safe in the knowledge
that you're supporting
your local community and
being kinder to the environment.
|
| |
| Recycle
The key to recycling is
sorting. Create a system
at home that makes it
easy for everyone to separate.
We all know we can recycle
paper, aluminium, plastic
and glass to some extent,
but can we do better?
To find out what you can
recycle
on your kerbside contact
your local council. |
| |
| Hazardous
Waste Disposal
Some waste is especially
harmful to our environment
and must be disposed of
responsibly - particularly
things like energy saving
bulbs, batteries, paints,
chemicals, etc. For Waitakere
residents there is a household
hazardous waste drop off
at the Waitakere City
Council Transfer Station.
Otherwise, the Auckland
Regional Council has a
calendar
that lists when the hazmobile
will be in your area.
|
| |
| Organic
waste Kitchen scraps,
lawn clippings, cardboard,
newspaper, toilet rolls
and cooked food are all
ideal ingredients for
the perfect compost brew.
And 'cookin' up compost'
means less waste going
into landfill via kerbside
rubbish collections. There
are composting systems
galore - worm farms, hot
composting, slow composting
or bokashi
- you're sure to find
something to suit your
household. The EcoMatters
Sustainable
Living Centre has
heaps of different types
of compost bins on display,
if you want to see composting
in action. |
| |
| Rethink
When we think 'waste'
we naturally think solid
waste. However, we are
constantly using products
and services around home
that have an impact on
the environment. 'Waste'
also encompasses how we
use energy and water,
how we shop and renovate
and how many trips we
make in our cars each
day. Our Sustainable
Homes Programme focuses
on all these issues and
offers ideas for reducing,
recycling and reusing.
They're also covered on
topic specific pages on
this website. |
| |
| Visit
our Sustainable Living
Centre The Sustainable
Living Centre has a wide
range of resources and
information available
for visitors on the impact
of waste generation in
our cities, and positive
ideas for how your family
can reduce, reuse and
recycle. |
| |
| Check out these websites
for more information on
reducing your waste: |
| Auckland
Regional Council |
| DonateNZ |
| Freecycle
|
| Waste
Exchange |
| Reduce
Your Rubbish |
| WasteMINZ |
| Zero
Waste |
| |
