Sign the petition for a container deposit-refund system in New Zealand here.

Have you ever read the back of a bottle and seen that it’s worth 10c in South Australia? We are really keen to see a similar refund system for all drink bottles and cans in New Zealand.

Container deposit-refund systems lead to extremely high recycling rates (up to 99% in Germany) and extremely low contamination rates. They also achieve extremely low litter rates – after all, most of us will pick up 10c if we see it lying in the gutter. In Norway, 97% of all plastic bottles are recycled, 92% to such a high standard they are turned back into drink bottles.

Growing your own veggies is a great source of cheap, healthy and super-fresh food, and it can be a great way to reduce waste too. No more plastic packaging to take home, plus you can transform all your garden and kitchen waste into rich compost for the garden. Dr Compost has been doing it all for over 20 years, and is always keen to share his top tips. You can ask him questions right now on Facebook or come along to one of his free workshops or event stalls (funded by QLDC to reduce organic waste going to landfill). If you just want to get started turning a patch of lawn into a veggie garden, read his recent article “Local Food on the Lawn” published in the Otago Daily Times or find out more about in-ground worm-farming here.

Dr Compost spring schedule:

Remarkables Market stall, 9am-2pm Saturday 20th October (Remarkables Park Red Barn)

Wanaka ONE summit Eco Fair, 10am-1pm Sunday 28th October (Lake Wanaka Centre)

Wanaka “Easy Ways to Compost” Workshop, 6.30pm-8.30pm Monday 29th October (St John’s Rooms). Limited space, reserve your free ticket here.

Wanaka “Grow Your Own Veggies” Workshop, 6.30pm-8.30pm Wednesday 31st October (St John’s Rooms). Limited space, reserve your free ticket here.

For anyone that hasn’t seen the new Wastebusters movie ad – here it is! Of course we’d still recommend a night out at Cinema Paradiso to see it in full-screen glory (and to enjoy a home-made cookie or ice-cream). A massive thanks to Rachel Erichsen and the DANCE OUT LOUD School of Dance crew who made us look more coordinated than we really are, to Joe Murdie from The Film Crew Ltd who stayed calm no matter what crazy ideas we came up with, and especially to the Wastebusters crew who made it all work. Love you all!