Wastebusters Trust Canterbury

Community inspiration in Ashburton

Wastebusters Trust Canterbury  is one of New Zealand's most successful and resourceful, community led  Zero Waste initiatives.

Since its' beginnings in Ashburton in 1998 it has been supported by the Zero Waste NZ Trust .

The first amount was $10,000 in February 1998 as a contribution for the "Towards Zero Waste in Ashburton" project led by Sheryl Stivens. 

Since then, the ZWNZ Trust has funded regular amounts for projects such as Ashburton's first Winter Waste Fest in 1998 and later years,  the "Rural Solutions to Organic Waste" project in 1999 ($8500), and smaller amounts for developing Zero Waste display kits, and the  "Implementing Zero Waste in Rural Communities" project.

This funding was made possible from funds given to the Trust by the Tindall Foundation.

More recently, in May 2004, the Zero Waste NZ Trust approved a funding application for $9500 to assist the WTC extend their recycling services by purchasing a commercial paper shredder for their recycling depot.

These funds came from the Vodafone Foundation Fund money allocated to the Zero Waste NZ Trust.

Wastebusters had carried out a survey that identified office paper as a major component of landfill rubbish from local businesses.

The Trust wanted to provide a local confidential paper shredding service at the depot to promote the recovery of all white ledger paper from local schools, businesses and community groups.   

The shredder was installed and in use at the CWT depot in Ashburton by June 2004.