Free Materials service available across Canterbury

1 May 2013

Free Materials service available across Canterbury

A free online service being launched throughout Canterbury is helping businesses, schools and other organisations reduce waste disposal costs while providing materials for others to use at no charge.

Christchurch City Council’s Free Materials service already has more than 200 registered suppliers and collectors.

The service works by enabling businesses, schools or other organisations to register as suppliers or collectors of goods. Participants that make available reusable materials they no longer have a use for can avoid the cost of sending these materials to landfill by offering them free to organisations that have a need for them.

The reusable materials may include such things as plastic pails, stationery, paper, pallets, furniture, electronic equipment and packaging. Items are listed on the website www.freematerials.co.nz where potential collectors can browse what is available and register their interest in collecting the materials.

“The service is good for the environment by finding a home for reusable materials and it saves participating suppliers and collectors money,” says Kevin Crutchley, the Council’s Resource Efficiency Programme Manager.

“It is a great way of reducing costs to your organisation and helping the Canterbury community source free materials.”

Free Materials is part of the Christchurch City Council Target Sustainability services which help businesses become more resource efficient through reducing waste and being energy and water efficient. You can go to www.targetsustainability.co.nz for more information.

All the Canterbury councils contribute financially towards the administration of Free Materials, through the Canterbury Waste Joint Committee.

Christchurch City Council is running a promotion for suppliers and collectors until 30 June 2013. Registered suppliers and collectors who get an eligible organisation to register as a new supplier could win a Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa prize package valued at almost $300.

For details, visit www.freematerials.co.nz

“The service relies on organisations that are able to make available good quality materials for free. Just because you don’t have a use for something doesn’t mean it is worthless – it may be just the thing another organisation in our community has been wanting but maybe couldn’t afford,” says Mr Crutchley.

Free Materials
Who can use the free service:
Businesses, education providers, charities, community groups, local and national government organisations.
*The service is not open to individuals

What you can list:
Paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, metal, wood, pallets, textiles, furniture, polystyrene, electronic equipment, construction and demolition material.

What you cannot list:
Hazardous materials, carpet, liquids, compost or manure, electronic equipment that is not operational.

For more information, or to register, go to www.freematerials.co.nz

ENDS

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