What is the Zero Waste Academy?

The Zero Waste paradigm has literally ‘exploded upon New Zealand’ and rapidly impacted the nations thinking on waste (over 70 % of Councils have adopted Zero Waste targets).

The Zero Waste Academy has, after a longstanding industry wide consultation, been established to develop the human resources, who will deliver the National Waste Strategy and in doing so multiply our industry’s significant contribution to New Zealand’s ‘Triple Bottom Line’. 

On December 11, 2002, the Zero Waste Academy was launched at a ceremony in Palmerston North, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Zero Waste New Zealand Trust, Massey University and Palmerston North City Council.

Vision

• To develop training, education and research programmes that will fill the void of information and practical know-how so New Zealanders can actively convert the ‘Zero Waste promise’ into a new and more positive environmental reality.

• Programmes will build capacity and awareness by highlighting innovation and ‘best practice’. 
• To address training requirements throughout the waste industry.

Goals

• To ensure that the thousands of ‘green-collar’ people employed within the industry (who currently have little representation in the National Qualification Framework (unit standards and ITOs), nor Registry (University papers and qualifications)) are provided with training, education and qualification that properly informs and validates their career path.

• To partner with and coordinate training providers and industry stakeholders in order to collectively ‘progress’ industry training to the next level.

If you would like to know more about the on-going development of the Zero Waste Academy, please don’t hesitate to contact Jonathon Hannon, Coordinator on email: