Love NZ at northern campgrounds this summer
23 December 2008
Regional park campers can 'Love NZ' and recycle with care this summer as the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) has
installed new recycling bins in northern regional park campgrounds including Tawharanui, Mahurangi, Wenderholm and
Shakespear Regional Parks.
Visitors to these regional parks can now recycle glass, aluminium cans, paper and some plastics while they are away from
home.
The 'Love NZ' project was launched by the Ministry for the Environment in 2007 after tourism industry surveys identified
common criticism from international visitors over New Zealand's lack of good public waste disposal options.
The project is a partnership between local and central government with the aim of establishing 600 recycling bins in
public places throughout the country by 2010. The Government allocated $4.6 million to install and service the bins.
ARC northern sector ranger Naomi Chaffey says the new recycling bins will be branded with the 'Love NZ' stickers and
signage, and will be an eye-catching reminder to campground visitors to recycle their rubbish.
"Recycling is important because it reduces the amount of waste going to landfill and it is more energy efficient to
recycle products than start from scratch," she says.
"'Love NZ' is bringing recycling to our regional park campgrounds. Look out for the logo on the special bins and show
you care by recycling glass, aluminium cans, paper and plastic."
Before the 'Love NZ' project provided funding to the ARC only two regional parks in the northern part of the region
offered recycling at their campgrounds.
"Campers were frequently asking where they could recycle their rubbish. This initiative is great because it upgrades the
recycling and rubbish facilities in the northern parks network by creating a more efficient recycling system that will
make recycling easier," Naomi Chaffey says.
"The initiative will benefit visitors to our campgrounds by providing safe and hygienic recycling facilities away from
home for long park stays."
The bins have been installed at Tawharanui, Mahurangi, Wenderholm and Shakespear regional parks in time for the busy
summer season.
A grant of $10,000 was given to the ARC by the Ministry for the Environment to cover the cost and installation of the
new recycling bins and signage.
ENDS