Be the Difference
Reduce, reuse, recycle
In 2004, then Environment Minister Marion Hobbs said that New Zealanders threw away 83 kg each of used packaging a year. Since then we’ve been recycling a higher percentage of our packaging but we’re also bringing home a lot more.
If we want to achieve effective and economic use of natural resources, we should bring home less packaging. It’s back to the old mantra – reduce, reuse, recycle – and reduction is the most important action of all.
- Avoid those large carrier bags that are often offered with a purchase. Most of your shopping will fit in a small nylon or string bag that folds up small and can easily fit in your handbag or glovebox.
- Check the number on that plastic. Plastics that are a 1 or 2 are the most easily recycled. If the product you are planning to buy has a higher number, see if you can buy the same product in different packaging.
- About the programme
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Greater Wellington Regional Council has set up the Be the Difference programme to make a positive difference to the environment of the Wellington region.
- Water conservation
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Water use increases by up to 50% in dry summer weather, mainly due to garden watering. This makes tougher water restrictions more likely just when plants need water most.
- Keep the region's water clean
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It's simple. With cleaner water we have a healthier food chain - from tiny fresh-water creatures like whitebait, native fish such as kokopu and bullies, to larger sea-dwellers like crayfish, blue penguins, seals, dolphins, sharks and orcas.
- Rubbish
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Rubbish is a growing issue for our region. Learn how to cut rubbish by reducing, re-using, recycling, composting and shopping smarter.
- Air pollution from cars
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Air pollution can and does affect us here in the Wellington region. At certain times of year it can get to levels that may cause problems for your health.
- Cutting down emissions from fires
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In some areas, particularly the Wairarapa, Upper Hutt and Wainuiomata, domestic fires are the main contributor to air pollution.
- Biodiversity
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Biodiversity is the combination of all living things in a place. It includes birds and insects, microbes, fungi and plants, people and their pets, and even farm animals.
- eNewsletters
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If you join Be the Difference we will send you 4 email newsletters a year. They will arrive via your email in html format so you can easily forward them to friends. Once the email has been posted out it will also be archived here on the website so there will always a copy available to you. We are currently still in the process of adding archived newsletters following the move from one web host to another so if you cannot find the one you want please get in touch[contact-us-2/] and we can send it to you.
- Sustainability links
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Follow these links to sources of useful information about household sustainability.