Waste reduction push during Waitangi Day celebrations
Community board funding has enabled EcoSolutions to extend its waste reduction services to Te Tii Marae as well as the Waitangi Treaty Grounds during the Waitangi Day celebrations this weekend.
EcoSolutions aims to match or better its Waitangi Day 2021 record of diverting 90 per cent of waste generated by the event from landfill by co-ordinating the collection, sorting and recycling of rubbish.
The 90 per cent diversion rate in 2021 was believed to be a first for an event of its size in Aotearoa and the goal this year is to achieve a similar rate at the treaty grounds and the nearby marae. EcoSolutions also aims to establish systems at the marae that will remain in place for future events.
The 2021 result was helped by 99 per cent of food stallholders using compostable packaging, and EcoSolutions volunteers sorting rubbish into compostable and recyclable piles. This resulted in only a small percentage of waste going to landfill.
During an extraordinary meeting held on 24 January, EcoSolutions was granted $1,600 by the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board to extend its approach to Te Tii Marae, next to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. The grant will also help cover costs for waste minimisation volunteers at this year’s Waitangi Day celebrations.
EcoSolutions' Para Kore team (Waste Minimisation with a Te Ao Māori view) will offer guidance to those attending the celebrations on what can be recycled or composted and how to avoid creating other waste. Volunteers will also hand out take-home guides on recycling and information about free composting wananga for schools and businesses.
EcoSolutions is an enterprise that was started 17 years ago by the Community Business and Environment Centre (CBEC). It focuses on positive climate action by encouraging behaviour change and increasing kaitiakitanga – caring for the environment – by examining how waste is disposed of. It provides advice on how to minimise waste and runs education programmes for schools, businesses and community groups.
CBEC is a community enterprise operating business and environmental programmes and providing local training and employment.
Main photo – EcoSolutions diverted 90 per cent of waste from landfill at Waitangi Day 2021.