Zero Waste: What is the Zero Waste Academy?
The Zero Waste Academy (ZWA) was established in 2002 as a partnership between the ZeroWaste New Zealand Trust, Massey University and the Palmerston North City Council. The ZWA was strategically located at Massey University to assist in the facilitation of active linkages between the City, the recycling industry and the University’s research and teaching community.
Vision
To develop training, education and research programmes which delivers informationand practical know-how so New Zealanders can actively convert the ‘zero wastepromise’ into a new and more positive environmental reality.
Since its inception the ZWA has participated in a range of educational and sector development projects covering a diversity of subject areas such as; issues and opportunities associated withewaste - product stewardship / extended producer responsibility - organic recycling / composting,- recycling policy, systems and infrastructure - industrial ecology / material life cycles - construction and demolition waste minimisation - public event recycling - and local government and community enterprise development.
As ZWA coordinator, Jonathon maintains an in-depth working knowledge of New Zealand’s resource recovery / recycling industry and extensive experience working with the people, organisations and activities, which underwrite it’s role as an environmental service provider to the New Zealand economy. Within Massey this work area is supported by: Professors: Peter Kemp, Vince Neall, John Holland and Sarah McLaren and Dr Chris Anderson and links in with the work of the ‘Massey University Sustainability Steering Group’.
The concept of ‘zero waste’ is based upon the alternative view that all waste materials are primarily resources - and as such, need to be understood, managed efficiently and conserved in the best interests of the planet, our community and economy. Zero waste is a global movement and part of a contemporary paradigm shift towards sustainable resource management.
If you would like to know more about the on-going development of the Zero Waste Academy, please don’t hesitate to contact Jonathon on email: J.B.Hannon@massey.ac.nz
For further information see the ZWA website.
Updated March 2012