Waiheke Waste Resource Trust

The Waste Resource Trust is a Waiheke Island based community organisation working to involve all sections of its community in reducing waste.

Trustees recognise that there is an urgent need for locals to take responsibility for and control of conserving resources in many areas - solid waste, water, sewage and energy (including transport).

The Broad objectives of the Trust are:

• Undertake projects and programmes, which maximise resource recovery and zero-waste practices on Waiheke

• Provide the Waiheke community with information and education to make ethical, effective and powerful decisions in respect of waste management

• Undertake and generate initiatives for the benefit of the people and the environment

• Provide training to assist people on Waiheke to gain meaningful employment and small business opportunities in resource recovery and innovative waste management consultancy.

Initially the Trust gathered information on  the state of solid waste  management on the island by conducting a community waste audit, an attitudinal telephone survey and an in-depth analysis of the waste produced by a sample of Waiheke households. 

A FIRST FOR JOINT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Using this information the Trust discussed with CBEC - a Kaitaia community organisation - the possibilities of setting up a joint community business with them to manage the Island’s refuse and recycling using CBEC’s operational expertise. In 2001 the joint venture won two contracts with the Auckland City Council which were:
1.To undertake a collection service of domestic and public refuse and recycling containers.

2.To manage the Waiheke Transfer Station.

Clean Stream Waiheke was formed as a joint company between CBEC and WRT to carry out these contracts – with CBEC progressively disposing of its interest in Clean Stream Waiheke as the contract progresses. 

Already the contracts have resulted in an increase of 15 jobs in our community and as the recycling strategy develops more jobs may be generated.

WASTE MINIMISATION EDUCATION

An integral, but separate, part of the Waste Resource strategy is to educate all sectors of our community about the benefits of reducing the amount of waste we produce.  The Trust has a grant from Auckland City Council that assists with this programme.  Other funding is obtained from Zero Waste NZ Trust, Clean Stream Waiheke Ltd, CEGS and donations.

We are achieving this aim by:

1.   Organising events that create publicity about re-using, reducing and recycling.

2.    Working directly with local businesses to assist them with waste reduction practices.

3.    Developing resources that highlight the recycling message on Waiheke.

4.     Initiating and maintaining a positive promotion programme.

5.    Working with local schools to introduce environmental education and zerowaste concepts.

6.    Holding workshops and giving presentations to local groups.

7.    Targetting the visitor population to encourage them to reduce waste during their stay.

8.    Setting up a public office which functions as a meeting place to discuss ideas and where we showcase and sell objects and art made by locals from recovered waste material.

9.    Researching and testing new ideas for waste reduction.

Contact:

Phone: 09 372 2915
Email:

• Gordon Hodson at
• Glenda Andrew-Neal at
• Denise Roche at 

Website  www.wrt.org.nz