Community zero waste initiatives celebrated

The Queenstown Lakes District Council 2009 Zero Waste Award winners were announced on Saturday as part of Queenstown Winter Festival celebrations at Earnslaw Park.

“There were some really great entries this year,” QLDC solid waste manager Stefan Borowy said. “In particular we were delighted with entries received from the younger members of our community. The creativity and thought put in was just outstanding.”

The 2009 Zero Waste Award winners are:
$1000 Making it Happen Award (sponsored by QLDC for a Zero Waste Project to be completed in the next 12 months)

Wanaka Pre-School for its proposal to construct a bench / sink unit with recycling and composting units attached to enable children to sort waste into appropriate categories. All food scraps will be composted and used in their vegetable garden.
$500 Business Award (sponsored by Coronet Peak for efforts towards reducing, reusing or recycling in a business or community group)

Copthorne Hotel and Resort for implementing a range of waste reduction initiatives including:

• Putting recycling systems in place throughout the business including guest’s rooms;
• Using worm farms to compost food waste; and
• Holding monthly recycling and sustainability meetings to look at ways to reduce waste in the future.
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$500 Individual Award (sponsored by YHA New Zealand for any individual’s efforts towards reducing in their home or community)

Award shared between:
Simon Brackstone and family for their efforts towards achieving zero waste. The Brackstone family moved to Gibbston 4 years ago and have reduced energy consumption by building an energy wise home, composting, recycling water and having a family travel management plan. The family has reduced their waste from 2 blue bags a week to one per fortnight.

Sarah McHardy for her efforts to always buy New Zealand made, environmentally friendly products, and reducing waste and energy consumption. Sarah also spends a lot of time working to influence others by educating friends and colleagues on more environmentally friendly practices.

$500 School Award (sponsored by Wanaka Wastebusters for efforts towards reducing, reusing or recycling in early learning, primary and secondary schools)

Aspiring Beginnings Early Learning Centre for implementing various waste minimisation strategies such as: recycling, composting, and feeding food scraps to their pet hen ‘Chook Chook’. The children also have a vegetable garden and are encouraged to educate and influence others on waste reduction.

The council also awarded spot prizes for the most creative entries, with winners receiving Bokashi compositing bins. The spot prize winners are:

St Josephs School for a snail made from recycled real estate sign and used clean wrap from food.
Aspiring Beginnings Early Learning Centre for a basket made from drift wood and story blocks made from left over wood off-cuts detailing the centres efforts towards waste reduction.

Mr Borowy congratulated all award winners and entrants. “This community is clearly very dedicated to achieving the zero waste goal and we are looking forward to seeing what next year’s awards might bring,” he said.

“We’d also like to sincerely thank our sponsors. We are really grateful that local businesses have gotten behind these awards to help make them a success,” Mr Borowy said.

ENDS