Ride to Recycle becomes regular Rotorua outing

The Ride to Recycle concept has taken off in Rotorua with a third ride planned for Sunday [14 December 2014].

Organised by Keep Rotorua Beautiful in conjunction with local volunteer Marcello Ojerio and sponsored locally by Burger Fuel, Sunday’s ride will focus on portions of Tarawera Road, Long Mile Road and Te Ngae Road.

The first two rides proved popular with local cycling enthusiasts and there are plans to make Ride to Recycle a regular event, Rotorua Lakes Council Sustainability Advisor (Keep Rotorua Beautiful), Rose Hiha-Agnew, says. Another is being planned for February 2015.

“We collected a lot of recyclables during the first two rides. During the Waipa Ride to Recycle we collected a whole wheelie bin full of plastic drink bottles,” she says.

“Visitors expect Rotorua to be clean and green and our natural environment is one of our biggest assets. Events like this reduce the amount of plastics and waste that would otherwise end up on our land and in our streams and lakes.”

The Ride to Recycle concept is supported by a community volunteer network which is encouraging wider participation and providing a base to draw on for future initiatives aimed at reducing waste and minimising negative impacts on the local environment.

As well as helping to clean up the city, the Ride to Recycle events provide an opportunity to highlight the amount of plastics which often litter cycleways, tracks and streets and educate people about recycling,” Ms Hiha-Agnew says.

“A discarded plastic bottle or coffee cup can take years to break down but it can be recycled.”

She’s hoping for a good turnout for Sunday’s Ride to Recycle.

“People really enjoyed the first two rides – it’s family-friendly and a great community event to come along and participate in and meet others who are prepared to help keep our city looking beautiful.”

She and Mr Ojerio came up with the idea for Ride to Recycle, combining ideas to encourage active participation in clean-ups throughout the district and Rotorua’s love of cycling.

“Using bikes also means we can cover a good distance – and participants are getting in some exercise at the same time.”

The Ride to Recycle concept has received support from Councillor Janet Wepa, who leads the Rotorua Lakes Council’s sustainable living portfolio.

“It’s certainly an innovative way to contribute to keeping our city clean and tidy,” she says.

“It would be great if people wouldn’t discard rubbish in the first place but unfortunately, it does happen and we really appreciate the efforts of anyone in our community who wants and is willing to do their part.

“I’d like to encourage people to come up with other inventive, group activities during which they can incorporate a litter pick-up or some other activity to help keep our district looking its best,” Cr Wepa says.

Ride to Recycle

• Sunday, 14 December

• 10am to 12pm

• Meet outside Burger Fuel, Redwood shopping centre, Cnr Te Ngae and Tarawera roads

• Rubbish/recycling bags and gloves provided

[Ends]

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