21 October 2011

Zero Waste Week activities planned

Lincoln Envirotown and Selwyn District Council are about to launch this year's Zero Waste Week, starting next Saturday, 29 October.

Selwyn District Council Solid Waste Manager Gavin Sole says the Zero Waste Week was set up to encourage people to focus on how they can reduce, reuse and recycle, with the aim of reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.

"Selwyn District does pretty well, but we can all have a bit of a think about ways to improve what we do with our waste. We've got some activities planned to help people out," he says.

Lincoln Envirotown Chairperson Sue Jarvis says the Lincoln Envirotown Zero Waste weeks started in 2006 with a Zero Waste Street Challenge in Lincoln, which was won by Glebe Close.

"In the first year, Helen Clark, then Prime Minister, presented a sign award to the winning street. In 2007 Zero Waste week included the distribution of reusable bags to all households in Lincoln. Since then we have had more street challenges. A survey last year found the biggest barrier to reducing waste was packaging, so this year we are concentrating on that," Dr Jarvis says.

Lincoln New World will host the opening on 29 October from 10am to 1pm. Mr Sole and Lincoln Envirotown representatives will be at the opening to provide information and answer questions. A sausage sizzle and displays will include:

• Recycling stand: Displaying the "wins and sins" of recycling, the recycling sorting process at EcoCentral; and what the recycled products are used for. There will also be information about what cannot go into your yellow wheelie bins

• Waste reduction stand: Helpful hints on what you can do to minimise your waste e.g. being aware of packaging. There will be displays and information on composting and worm farms.

• The Green Stand: Information about natural alternatives for cleaning products.

• The New World Stand: How Lincoln New World is contributing to a greener world.

After the opening, the displays will be moved to the Lincoln Event Centre for the week.
There will be a quiz form to complete about the stands; those with the most correct answers will win prizes from local businesses.

Other Zero Waste Week activities include a competition for children to design a poster about zero waste or waste reduction - entry forms are at Lincoln New World, Lincoln Event Centre and www.lincolnenvirotown.co.nz; a clothing reconstruction workshop and the screening of an environmentally-focused film Earth Whisperers by Christchurch film-maker Kathleen Gallagher, to be held at the Lincoln Event Centre on Wednesday, 2 November.

The finish of the week on Saturday, 5 November, from 11am to 2pm will include:

• Prizegiving to children for their posters or waste reduction plans

• Prizegiving for the quiz competitions

• Displays from local and recycling businesses

For more information visit: www.lincolnenvirotown.co.nz or www.selwyn.govt.nz

ENDS

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