Kaibosh

DISPOSAL
SPECIALISTS
to deliver recycling services for
their communities they started up
recycling centres, collections and
reuse shops to meet those needs. In
the process they created meaningful
jobs and training opportunities,
turned wasted resources into wages
and products and supported local
economic development.
Xtreme Waste employs 25
people; in a town of 4000 that’s
significant. CBEC Kaitaia has about
70 staff. Research has shown that
community recyclers put 80 cents
out of every dollar they receive
straight back into their local
economy. Councils and businesses
work hard to bring money into their
districts. It makes sense to spend
those hard earned dollars with an
organisation that is going to send
their communities cash around
at least one more time, before it
heads out to the Australian banks.
New ideas
Community recyclers are willing
to tackle the big issues like
e-waste, which has been in New
Zealand’s too hard basket for a
fair while now. Working with a
private New Zealand company,
community recyclers have helped
build a nationwide network of take
back depots for televisions and
other electronic waste. A number
of councils have taken up the
opportunity to become involved
with the RCN e-Cycle network.
They now have the infrastructure in
place to add on new initiatives and
programmes (like TV take back) as
these come on stream.
Drawing people in
Community recyclers encourage,
support and motivate people
to do practical things that make
a difference. Started by local
communities with shared interests
they have built on this model to
find new ways of engaging people.
The Para Kore marae recycling
programme developed in the
Waikato, has a strong base in the
Maori perspective. Hands on,
peer to peer learning processes
are used to build understanding
and practical skills, so marae
can reduce, reuse and recycle
effectively while they host hundreds
of thousands of visitors each year.
Here to stay
Community recyclers are in it for the
long haul. They are willing to work
on the economic margins where they
can see that longer term economic
benefits will flow from short term
investments in time, energy and
resources. Training opportunities,
local jobs and a safe, inclusive
community are valued more highly
than the quick buck. Community
recyclers share your goals. The best
reason to work with them is that they
want to solve your waste problems
rather than manage them.
Sue Coutts has managed Wanaka Wastebusters
since 2002 and has been actively involved with the
development of the Community Recycling Network
since 2003.
Photos by Simon Williams
OXIDISING
AGENT
5.1
CORROSIVE
FLAMMABLE SOLID
4
SPONTANEOUSLY
COMBUSTIBLE
MISCELLANEOUS
DANGEROUS
GOODS
9
INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE
in case of damage or leakage
immediately notify public
health authority
TOXIC
FLAMMABLE
LIQUID
CALL US - Nationwide Branch Network
0800 835 645
4
DANGEROUS
WHEN WET
4
NON-FLAMMABLE
NON-TOXIC
GAS
2
6
6
RADIOACTIVE
3
ADVICE COLLECTION DISPOSAL