Recycling scores a try
Recycling can be difficult at an outdoor event. You usually have to take it home or put it in the rubbish bin where it'll go straight to landfill.
That will change with the introduction of a Greater Wellington, StadiumTrust and Ministry for the Environment partnership to encourage all patrons to recycle when they visit Wellington'sWestpac Stadium.
"We send more than 300 tonnes of waste to landfill each year - that's the equivalent of 607 elephants!" says Linda Rieper, commercial manager of the stadium. "We expect to reduce our waste to landfill considerably with this initiative and we also hope to save money on landfill charges."
While the stadium has recycled glass, cardboard and green waste for some time, the recycling of plastic bottles and paper food packaging by the half-million patrons that pass through the gates each year has been a challenge.
"We've found that a lot of recyclable packaging is still being put in our general waste bins. So we're working with our partners to make it easier to do the right thing and recycle," says Linda.
The stadium will introduce the new recycling bins and begin a recycling education programme at the end of December. The system will be refined during January. By the time the Sevens Rugby Tournament comes around in February, the bins will be ready for the thousands of people attending the matches.
Greater Wellington is providing support for the scheme, which is being funded by the stadium and the Ministry for the Environment's "Recycling in Public Places Initiative". The bins will display the ministry's "Love New Zealand - Recycle with Care" brand.