1 in 10 Local Councils Are Backing The Packaging Accord's Christmas Rest & Recycle Campaign
On the 1st day of Christmas the council sent to me, a reminder to recycle this summer…
Several days into the campaign, one in ten local councils from Invercargill to Manukau is actively promoting the Rest & Recycle message to encourage New Zealanders to recycle more this summer.
Paul Curtis, Executive Director of the Packaging Council says councils are using the materials provided by the Packaging
Council in several different ways:-
“Councils are tailoring its use to meet local community needs. For example to ensure tourists get the message,Kaikoura
will be promoting the 12 steps to a Greener Christmas at camp sites; Manukau and Wellington will be using in their
general promotions; Invercargill and Westland have it up on their websites and in Rotorua you will see large posters at
the recycling facility. We’re being approached by councils each day and encourage them to join with us so wherever you
spend the holidays in New Zealand, you’ll get the message and more importantly you’ll know just what can be recycled and
how to do it.”
“The message is being reinforced this year in retail outlets around the country and this is already generating interest
from shoppers.”
On the 2nd day of Christmas, my supermarket said please use an eco-bag and reuse when you can...
Foodstuffs New World stores will be supporting the campaign via mailers and advertising over the Christmas/New Year
period.
Foodtown, Woolworths and Countdown supermarkets will be supporting the campaign with messages communicated via mailers,
instore radio and POS. Messages will be implemented in the lead-up to Christmas and the period immediately following,
when customers are likely to be disposing of items;
Liquor King ( Lion Nathan) will display in stores and on their website; and
Some wineries will be displaying the signs in cellar door shops.
Mr Curtis said that this initiative was sparked by the huge impact on shopper’s attitudes that the Make a Difference
campaign to reduce the number of plastic bags has made.
“It’s a natural extension to ask people to focus over the holiday period on a wide range of things that we can recycle–
packaging, cards, wrapping paper, Christmas trees. New Zealanders generate an estimated 30% more waste over the summer
holidays and most of it can be recycled if people put it into the recycling crate rather than the rubbish bin. The
amount of tonnes of glass recycled actually goes up by about 50% in January but we know for example that sales of glass
and cans go up 3 times our normal levels over the holiday period. People tend to know the collection times when they are
at home but often these vary during the holiday period or they may be down at the bach and not know local arrangements.”
“It’s great that local councils, recycling operators, local community newspapers and brand owners and retailers are
working together to Make a Difference to our environment. We encourage other retailers and councils who aren’t yet
signed up to this to get in touch and we will provide them with the 12 days to a greener Christmas poster.”
Take Some Time Out To Rest & Recycle
And Help Make It A Greener Christmas
Day 1
Recycling collection times may be different so make a note of the new time.
We consume 3 times more bottles and cans over the holidays and in seaside areas it’s an additional 400%. If you’re going
away, check what the local arrangements are. 77% of all councils offer households a kerbside recycling service so there
is no excuse for not separating products for recycling from household waste.
Day 2
You can recycle:
• Paper, glass, metals (food tins, drink cans, jar lids, wine bottle screw tops)
• Plastics 1&2 (and in some places 1-7)
Day 3
Organise household bins.
Put three bins in your kitchen or storage area: one for recyclables, one for compostable vegetable waste and one for
general waste.
Day 4
Recycle more packaging more often. New Zealanders consume over 730,000 tonnes of packaging every year but we
only recycle about half of it.
Day 5
Make a Difference by saying no. Use a reusable shopping bag when you go out Christmas shopping or only use a
plastic bag if you really need to. On average every New Zealander uses around 160 bags each a year.
Day 6
Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Did you know using recycled products is also better for the
environment because it uses less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions? Last year the amount we recycled
across NZ was the equivalent of taking 8000 cars off the road.
Day 7
Be clean and conserve space. Rinse out bottles and cans so it’s more pleasant for the recycling operators.
Squash plastic containers and cans to save space. Remember, metal lids on jars and wine bottle screw tops will recycle
as well as they are made from steel or aluminium.
Day 8
Reuse or recycle your Christmas cards. Up to 68 million Christmas cards will be sent to New Zealanders this
year. Choose charity cards, cards with recycled content or email cards this year. Your paper collector will recycle your
old Christmas cards. Christmas paper can be flattened and reused or recycled.
Day 9
Recycle cardboard toys and gift boxes. Flatten and recycle boxes. Did you know that 76% of paper and cardboard
is recycled in New Zealand and that we are one of the best records in the world?
Day 10
It’s not just packaging which can be recycled – there are collection points around for all of these for used
batteries, print cartridges and old mobile.
Day 11
Recycle your Christmas Tree. Check with your local council if they have a collection programme for it. Your
local transfer station or garden bag operator will accept trees and Living Earth receives trees as part of its green
waste collection. Trees can also be used for mulch.
Day 12
Make it your New Year’s Resolution to reduce, reuse and recycle even more in 2008. If we all do our bit New
Zealand WILL remain clean and green
ENDS