1. Aoraki Polytechnic’s Oamaru campus
manager, Liz Smillie, is delighted with
how easy it has been to introduce recycling
to the campus.
After seeing Waitaki Resource Exchange
co-ordinator Maxine Woodhouse’s ads and
column in local newspapers, Liz contacted
her to see if she could help kick-start
recycling at the campus.
“Maxine visited us in May. She looked at
what we were doing with our waste and
assessed our needs, and then produced a
report which was really easy to follow and
clear about what we could recycle and what
we couldn’t.”
Liz said it was then just a matter of getting
some recycling bins to place in the common
rooms, which staff and students have found
easy and convenient to use as they “don’t
have to go out of their way to do it”.
The Polytech has also placed boxes for
recycling paper, which makes up their
biggest volume of recyclable material, into
all of the classrooms.
Introducing recycling to the campus has
reduced their number of rubbish bins from
five to two, helping them save money as
well. The small bins in the common rooms
are emptied daily into two larger recycling
bins, which are collected once a week by
Transpacific Industries.
The Polytech has also joined the Resource
Exchange, with their waste oil collected for
use elsewhere in containers provided by the
Exchange.
Next year, depending on courses offered,
Liz said they may consider introducing
other waste minimisation methods such as
composting. However, she is happy that the
current system is meeting the needs of the
campus for “where they are at now”.
Liz said she “definitely” recommends that
other businesses and organisations looking
to reduce their waste and save money
contact Maxine.
“Maxine’s really efficient and informative,
and her report was clear and very helpful.
[Recycling] at the campus has been really
achievable and a lot easier than expected.”
Reducing waste “a lot easier than expected”
Waste less, save more - it works!Resource Exchange boosting business budgets
Cutting waste is simply sensible, says
Simplifood manager, Marie McLay.
“I’m finding it great not having my rubbish
going to the landfill,” says Marie, “and
it’s saving me around 42% in cost. The
programme is an asset.”
WorkingwiththeWaitakiResourceExchange,
Marie looked at what she could recycle and
Simplifood makes BIG savings
how much of her trash might be treasure for
others. Within a year, Simplifood (formally Bin
Inn) expects to reduce the amount of rubbish
going to the tip by a whopping four tonnes!
Simplifood’s 120 litre rubbish bin only gets
emptied once every two to three weeks now.
Before sorting started, a 240 litre bin was
emptied once or twice a week! Simplifood is
Aoraki Polytechnic Oamaru campus manager,
Liz Smillie, uses one of the recycling
bins now provided for students and staff.
Warehouse getting a bargain
With some inspiration and help from
the Council-funded Waitaki Resource
Exchange, The Warehouse Oamaru are aiming
to reduce their waste by half.
Warehouse manager Gareth Michelle says they
had been recycling, but following a visit from
Exchange co-ordinator Maxine Woodhouse
they are now “taking it to the next level”.
“We were recycling our cardboard, soft plastics
and paper, but have now taken it a step further
with introducing the hard plastic 1-6, strapping
tape, glass, aluminium, as well as listing some
items we no longer need on the Exchange.”
He said it had been easier than expected to do
this because of help from Maxine.
“Maxine has made it really easy by helping
assess our waste stream, looking at what could
be recycled from the skip, generating a report,
communicating our needs to the recycling guys
in town, and training our staff on what can be
recycled and how.”
The Warehouse also charge for their plastic
bags, and as a result had recently been able to
donate $1000 to the local St John.
Gareth said their vision now was to be leaders
in the community with recycling and show
business that it didn’t matter how big or small
they were, every little bit made a difference.
“It’s been great to refocus and get Maxine’s
passion for recycling into The Warehouse. It’s
very motivating!”
recycling all its cardboard and plastics. Using
the Resource Exchange website (*www.
resourcewaitaki.co.nz) community groups
are re-using Simplifood’s empty 20 lt vinegar
containers.
“This is one of our first success stories,“ said
Exchange Coordinator, Maxine Woodhouse.
“It’s a great effort for a little amount of work.”
Are you a Business, Non-Profit
Organisation or School in Waitaki?
If you’d like help
with reducing waste
and saving money,
contact Maxine
Woodhouse for a
FREE consultation.
Call 0210 223 1115 or e-mail
maxine@resourcewaitaki.co.nz
Dear Aunt Econi, can you help me? We’ve just moved
to the district and I don’t know what to do with my
recycling. Where do I go? Who do I see? What does it cost?
Yrs sincerely, Confused
Hullo, dear. It’s lovely to have you here. You must come
round for a sponge roll sometime. Now, your question.
Well, there’s all sorts of things you can do. If you’re in
Oamaru, dear, you can take all your recycling to the
Resource Recovery Park in Chelmer Street Oamaru. It’s lovely,
dear! And it’s free!! You can also leave recycling (free!) at our
Transfer Stations in Omarama, Otematata, Kurow and Hampden.
Just ring the nearest Council office for more details or go to
www.waitaki,govt.nz/waste. And if you want your recycling collected
for you, Awamoa Bins (434 9445) and TransPacific Industries
(437 0104) both have a bin service. Give them a call. And ring
me too, dear. I’ve got a lovely recipe for chillblain ointment.
*** If you have a question about waste
minimisation for Aunty Econi Miser,
just leave her a message with one of the
Council’s friendly customer services staff
on 433 0300 or e-mail:
service@waitaki.govt.nz
Aunty (or one of her helpers) will answer
your query as soon as she can, and will
include her favourites here in 3 weeks time!
On a mission: (from Left) Gareth Michelle (Manager of The Warehouse), Maxine Woodhouse
(Waitaki Resource Exchange Coordinator), along with Warehouse staff Sylvia Mc Geown, Claire
Martin, Debbie Godsall, Helen Waterhouse and Elena Conaglen, check out their recycling bins.
Hullo, folks!
Meet my dear old Aunty, Aunt
Econi Miser. She’s a really
good sort. And she knows
everything!! So, while I fight
the tossers, Aunt Econi is
going to answer all your
questions.
Over to you, Aunty.
Thank you, dear.
I hope you’re
eating properly.
And your
underpants need
ironing.
Ohhh,
Aunty! Don’t
embarrass me
in front of my
fans.
Dear Aunt Econi, I’ve got a big shed with 3 sports
cars, 2 vintage tractors, a jet plane, a space rocket
and7motorbikes.Troubleis,Ihaven’tgotanywhere
to put my used oil. It’s a big problem. I need help.
Yrs sincerely, Petrolhead
I think you’re tricking me, Petrolhead. You don’t
really have a jet plane and a space rocket, do you,
you scalliwag? But you can leave all your used oil
FREE at the Oamaru Landfill, Tamar Street. No
charge, any time - when they’re open, of course. You can also
leave up to 20 litres of engine oil for FREE at the Recovery
Park in Chelmer Street (you’ll need to leave the conatiners
too). You can also drop off cooking oil (if you keep the canola
or rice bran oil separate) and this is also FREE. Good luck!
P.S. I’d love to have a ride in your sports car. Perhaps you
could take me to church one day. I’d like to shock the vicar.
Dear Aunt Econi, what should I
do with my swedes?
Yrs sincerely, Southland Sid
You should eat them, Sid, you
silly billy! Then you should
compost all your scraps so you
can grow more swedes. They’re
very healthy. I’ve got a lovely recipe for
swede custard.
Sage advice on minimising,
from the Mini Miser’s
favourite Aunty
Q Q
Q