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Waste Minimisation (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

The waste that we generate can pollute our environment and result in expensive landfill costs.  Did you know it takes one million years for a plastic jug to break down?  That's a lot of future generations!

Adding to that, the resources we consume and throw away are often derived from processes that have negative effects on natural ecosystems, and the local communities who depend on them.  The more we re-use the resources currently in the supply chain, the less we need to extract from the natural environment.

New Zealanders use 22 million plastic bags a day - WOW, do we really need all those plastic bags?  What else do we use that we don't need?

Around 25% of our local waste is recycled in Rotorua.  Is that enough?  How could we do better?

 Tips for recycling in Rotorua

1. Compost!  There's loads of ways you can compost.
2. Re-use your newspapers, magazines and cardboard boxes.
3. When you purchase goods, think about how you could re-use the waste.
4. Make a trip to the Rotorua Recycling Centre as part of your weekly routine.
5. Support moves to promote kerbside recycling in Rotorua (we don't have it here, yet).
6. Use re-useable bags instead of plastic bags... keep a few in the car so you don't forget them.
7. Re-use plastic bottles for drink bottles instead of buying them all the time - saves money and the planet.
8. Join in activities of the Keep Rotorua Beautiful committee, and help keep Rotorua loking great.
9. Join the Rotorua 'Freecycle' Group and let people know what you want to get rid of.  One person's rubbish could be another's treasure!

Further information

• Rubbish - He Parahanga. This is a great resource for kids, and for adults looking for impressive facts!!
• The Waste Exchange and the Rotorua Recycling Centre deal with local waste.
• Electronic waste collections are organised to recycle older computers and other equipment.
• Rotorua District Council is responsible for managing the district's rubbish and recycling services.
• Zero Waste Trust is dedicated to waste reduction throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand.
• Enviroschools provides loads of useful information especially for kids.
• Kids, check out The Green Team - a fun game to see how much you know about waste!
• The Story of Stuff answers the question: 'why can't things keep going the way they are?'

Learn more about...

• Well-being
• Sustainable transport
• Water
• Sustainable business
• Sustainable development
• Sustainable buildings
• Climate change
• Energy efficiency
• Food systems
• Ecosystems
• Forests
• Wetlands
• Consumer information
• Air quality