Reuse Aotearoa

Local councils and waste and recycling organisations could evolve their current services to help support the adoption of reusable packaging in the Waikato region, a new report commissioned by Waikato Regional Council has found.  Return to Reuse, the report by Reuse Aotearoa, says having a third-party system that collects empty packages, inspects and sanitises them, and then redistributes them back to producers would enable more businesses to shift to reusable packaging. Learn more ⬇️

We are delighted to share our latest report, Return to Reuse, commissioned by Waikato Regional Council. https://lnkd.in/gBwxneiW The report explores the potential role of Waikato’s resource recovery system - including territorial authorities & waste & recycling operators (both community & private) - in supporting reusable packaging reverse logistics as part of their service provision. Reverse logistics are activities like collection/drop-offs, sorting, washing & redistribution of empty reusable packaging between uses. The research included a desktop study of literature about the appropriateness of the waste & recycling sector getting involved in these tasks, and local & international examples of the sector already doing so. These examples are shared as case studies in the report and feature organisations such as TOMRA, Xtreme Zero Waste, Byron Shire Council, and more! The research also included in-person workshops & one-on-one interviews with council waste officers & waste & resource recovery operators from across the Waikato region. These workshops & interviews delved into the capacity & willingness of participants to service reusable packaging systems, as well as key needs & opportunities. All the findings & opportunities for action are outlined in the report, which you can find at the link above. We will also be sharing key findings at a WasteMINZ webinar on Tuesday 10 September. You can register here: https://lnkd.in/gS6YUW_j Report cover image: Workshop Brewing Co reusable can holders in Xtreme Zero Waste kerbside collection.

It is with mixed emotions that we announce that our co-founder, Kim Renshaw, will be stepping down from her role at Reuse Aotearoa, effective 1 September 2024. Kim has been absolutely instrumental in getting Reuse Aotearoa off-the-ground and supporting its ongoing growth. She has adeptly managed all the organisation’s projects, secured funding for our mahi, and undertaken untold numbers of admin, accounting, contractual and other wrangling tasks! She also found time to develop a successful series of specialist workshops on reusable packaging, produce guidance on implementing reusable packaging at events, and present our research at conferences. Kim will leave a big gap at Reuse Aotearoa - we’ll especially miss her amazing organisational skills, her steadfast commitment to reuse and sustainability, her deep and detailed knowledge of reusable packaging systems, and her deadpan sense of humour that can bring hilarity to many otherwise trying scenarios. We are incredibly grateful for Kim's contribution, and immensely proud of the work we have accomplished together. In just three years, Reuse Aotearoa has conducted novel research on reusable packaging systems in New Zealand, provided education and facilitated collaboration around reuse, and made significant progress in elevating the conversation around reusable packaging amongst a range of stakeholders. Reuse Aotearoa will continue our mahi under the leadership of Hannah Blumhardt, with the release of our latest report, next week: Return to Reuse: The potential role for Waikato's territorial authorities and resource recovery sector in support reverse logistics for reusable packaging. We wish Kim all the very best for her future roles. She will continue to be contactable via her organisation, Beyond the Bin: kim@beyondthebin.org.nz

Reuse is a climate solution

Our latest report, commissioned by Waikato Regional Council, and released today has found almost 100 different reusable packaging systems in use in the Waikato region for grocery-type items. These include glass bottle swap systems for milk, grocery store bulk bins or refill stations where customers can fill their own reusable containers, and reusable pallets or produce crates to transport products to retailers. Waikato Regional Council’s Waste Prevention Adviser, Valerie Bianchi, says overall the stocktake shows there are reusable packaging systems available for consumers who seek them out, particularly in the hotspots of Hamilton city and Waipā, Waikato and Thames-Coromandel districts. “These systems are mainly for consumers who will go the extra mile, like they will take their own BYO containers for refills or they return empty milk bottles back for a new bottle,” says Valerie. “But these systems are mainly being offered by small and bespoke businesses – it’s not something that is well integrated in mainstream grocery stores.” Hannah Blumhardt, lead researcher of Reuse Aotearoa, says preventing waste reduces discharge of contaminants into the environment.   “When they work well, reuse systems reduce waste and emissions by replacing throwaway packaging. For example, if one glass milk bottle is washed and filled 200 times, that’s 200 single-use plastic bottles that never needed to be created.” says Blumhardt. “This replacement effect reduces not just the physical waste product but the pressure on our natural resources to make the throwaway packaging, like trees for cardboard, or oil for plastic.” The reusable packaging options used in Waikato originate from businesses inside and outside the region. Some local examples include Raglan-based Dreamview Creamery’s reusable glass bottles and jars for milk and yoghurt, zero waste stores like Bare Refill in Hamilton or Re-Store in Thames, and butchers that welcome BYO containers, such as Wholly Cow in Cambridge or Expleo in Te Awamutu. Check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gMFmcdVc Waikato Regional Council press release: https://lnkd.in/g47qgSav

Great to see the results from the first audit in Aarhus’ reusable cup project with Tomra! These are cups that landed in the general waste public bins - which they also collect. Very exciting project to watch.