Zero Waste: Clean Stream Waiheke Ltd.

This company, a partnership of two community groups, the Waste Resource Trust (WRT) on Waiheke Island and the Kaitaia based cooperative Community Business and Environment Centre (CBEC) was formed to tender for the collection and management of public, residential and commercial waste on Waiheke. Clean Stream Waiheke has been awarded a seven-year contract by Auckland City Council, the island’s local authority.

Two directors appointed by each partner oversee the affairs of the company, though the active roles of each partner are separate.
CBEC, with its lengthy experience in waste management, is responsible for the overall operational management and staff training.
The WRT focuses on development of waste minimisation and promotion programmes for all sectors within the community, including the very significant visitor population.

In the long term it is intended that CBEC’s management involvement will be progressively reduced and Clean Stream Waiheke Ltd. will become a Waiheke community owned company.

The contract started in July 2001 and serves Waiheke’s permanent population of 7000 which during the summer holiday season grows to an estimated 20,000 residents.

Sea and road transport carries all the islands refuse for disposal into landfills located on the Auckland isthmus. As transport and disposal costs exceed $NZ 130/tonne there is a strong economic justification for waste minimisation.

Clean Stream Waiheke’s tender was aimed at bettering the Waiheke Waste Management Plan’s target of a 10% per annum reduction in the quantity of waste disposal over the next four years. In the first four months of its operation the company has (at an annualised rate) already achieved a reduction of over 20%.

Its objective is to reach a 60% reduction within that four-year period. To do so it will use innovative waste minimisation practices supported and sustained by an enthusiastic and committed staff and community.

The funding for the establishment and development of the company has been supported by loans from ’The Prometheus Ethical Finance’ and the ’N.Z. Recycled Enterprise Loans Trust’.

Contact:

Clean Stream Waiheke Ltd
Gordon Hodson
Ph: 09 372 7332
E:

Website: www.cleanstream.org