Don’t Screw Up Canterbury

Each year more than 60,000 tonnes of paper and cardboard is thrown away into the regional landfill at Kate Valley. That’s 21% of the total weight of all waste that goes into the Kate Valley landfill.

Waimakariri District is responsible for sending a little over 6% of all waste to Kate Valley, which means to 3,700 tonnes of that paper and cardboard sent to landfill comes from this district.

Most of the paper and cardboard comes from businesses. Early in 2007 businesses in the Waimakariri District were asked to join a groundbreaking pilot project designed to minimise the rapidly expanding paper mountain.

Called ‘Don’t Screw Up Canterbury’, the pilot marked the start of a region–wide drive to divert the amount of paper and cardboard sent to landfill.

Fifteen local businesses – from retailers to manufacturers to GP’s – signed up to the pilot. Each received up to three visits by a waste reduction consultant and follow-up support and advice.

During those visits, existing disposal and recycling systems were reviewed, and information, resources and assistance were provided on how to reduce, reuse and recycle paper and cardboard waste.

The results were quite dramatic for some businesses – the amount of paper and cardboard they were throwing away reduced by as much as 75%.

The ‘Don’t Screw up Canterbury’ pilot is expected to see 13.5 tonnes of paper diverted from landfill from the fifteen local businesses that signed up for the programme. These businesses will continue to benefit from ongoing savings from reduced paper used and waste disposal costs.

The key to reducing, reusing and recycling paper and cardboard is staff education and providing easy to use systems.

You too can save paper and reduce waste!

Seven reasons to join the ‘Don't Screw Up Canterbury’ Project :

• Reducing, reusing and recycling paper and cardboard saves you money
• It’s cheaper than sending it to the landfill
• Reducing the amount of waste to landfill extends the landfill life
• It helps the economy
• Processing recycling paper is faster and less expensive than growing trees for paper
• Reducing the need for virgin paper production reduces CO2 emissions – and saves on the use of hazardous chemicals, energy and water.
  Commercial recyclers are creating local jobs.

The below information is designed help you to reduce, reuse and recycle paper and cardboard waste at your business.

	Paper and Cardboard Recycling (A Step by Step Guide)
	Doing A Walk-Through
	Conducting a Waste Audit
	Internal Recycling System
	Case Studies
	Recycling Images

A few refuse collectors operating in the Waimakariri District already offer recycling services in addition to their refuse collections. Talk to your waste contractor to find out if they can provide you with a recycling service.

Or contact our Solid Waste Asset Manager Kitty Waghorn for more information. Ph 03 313 6136 or email kitty.waghorn@wmk.govt.nz

You can also check out the Christchurch City Council’s Target Sustainability website for more information about Waste, Water and Energy efficiency programmes which will improve the efficiency of your business and save you money. The resources for these programmes are free to download. Businesses within the Waimakariri District may be able to receive subsidised visits from the Target Sustainability group in the near future.