Waste Minimisation

On a regular basis we buy items and products: a bottle of water or a sandwich, cup of coffee or magazine, groceries. Occassionally we buy bigger purchases such as a new television set, computer or washing machine. Every step of the way - from raw materials to manufacturing to the customer - involves waste.

But waste does not have to be wasted. By reusing, recycling and especially reducing the amount of rubbish we make, we can make a difference by using less of the worlds precious resources, reducing pollution (as there is less waste to get rid of) and using less energy (as fewer new things have to be made). "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is an easy guide to cut down on rubbish. Using the "3R's" saves you money, reduces the amount of rubbish sent to landfill and also lowers carbon emissions.

Articles

Get Informed

Did you know that we threw away over 49,500 tonnes of rubbish to landfill last year. Thats means every Southlander disposed of 545 kilograms of rubbish in 2009.

cloth bags reduce the need for plastic bags

Reduce your Rubbish

The most efficient way to stop waste is not to make it. We reduce the amount of waste we create by buying few products and by purchasing products that last longer.

Get more life out of your rubbish

Do you have grandparents who save everything - from bits of string, tin foil, margarine tubs, to old hats? Chances are they lived through the Great Depression when nothing (and I mean nothing) was thrown out. Learn how they did it back in those days and why we need be doing it now.

Love Southland Recycle

Recycling saves resources and saving resources saves the world. Recycling turns waste materials into new products and reduces waste to landfill.

Waste-to-Energy

Recovery is the extraction of materials or energy from waste for further use or processing. The main areas for the recovery of resources are composting, converting landfill gas to energy, use of waste oil as a fuel and converting sewage sludge to a biomass.

How much are we recycling?

Recycling saves resources and saving resources saves the world. But just how much are we recycling in Southland? Check out our progress as we aim to recycle 9,000 tonnes in 2012.