Minimising waste in your business
There is no Council curbside collection in the East Tamaki business precinct, so many recycleables get thrown in the bin with organic waste and ultimately end up in landfill. Separating your recycleables and reducing waste to landfill can save you $$$$, and we have a responsibility as a business community to make socially conscious waste management decisions. We are committed to assisting you in this process.
In 2014 with funding from Auckland Council's Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund, we undertook a feasibility study into waste minimisation in East Tamaki. Download a copy of the Feasibility Report here.
Since then we have introduced a number of initiatives and resources to assist local businesses to minimise waste to landfill. These include educational forums, annual pallet collections and recycling initiatives below.
Recycling Directory
This comprehensive online directory provides information on what materials can be recycled, where to recycle them, and who to contact.
FREE Waste Advisory Service
At the beginning of 2019 Business East Tamaki received funding from Auckland Council's Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund (WMIF) to provide a site-specific waste minimisation advisory service during the year. Wilkinson Environmental Ltd were contracted to deliver the service.
At the end of November 26 businesses had been visited, with a total of 2,002 tonnes of waste currently going to landfill and 1,889 tonnes being recycled (49%).
A total diversion potential of 192 tonnes has been identified, with 42.7 tonnes already implemented, plus a one-off diversion of 10 tonnes. Another 908 tonnes of stretch potential opportunities has been identified where some investment or R&D (possibly funded) is required.
We also held an Environmental Showcase at OfficeMax, local leaders in sustainability.
If your business in East Tamaki has significant waste streams, please contact Julie Davies at Business East Tamaki for assistance.
Pallet Collection/Recycling
Business East Tamaki's free pallet collection in September/October 2019 saw 45 local businesses divert 70 tonnes of wood waste from landfill to recycling. Roughly 489.5 tonnes has been recycled since 2014.
Love Food Hate Waste
The government has launched an initiative to tackle the problem of more than 100,000 tonnes of food being wasted every year. Waste industry body WasteMINZ has partnered with 59 councils in the $1 million project to educate New Zealanders on ways to reduce the amount of food being sent to landfill each year.
Food waste sent into a landfill creates methane gas that is 23 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. This contributes greatly to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
Highbrook based business KiwiHarvest rescues good food before it goes to waste and gives it to those in need.
Try local business Ecobags' plastic free Compostible Bin Liners