Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community

Here is the video of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Capt. Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation first discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — an endless floating waste of plastic trash. Now he’s drawing attention to the growing, choking problem of plastic debris in our seas.

Rated Informative, jaw dropping and persuasive on TED so far.

Go here for the video page. if you can’t see the embedded video below.

Biogas is the flammable gas given off during

Anaerobic Digestion (fermentation).

Anaerobic Digestion is a useful process!

Biogas is a useful product!

Biogas can be utilised as a free energy source in a domestic or farm situation!

Small scale Anaerobic Digestion for the House and Farm, is the topic of a Presentation at:

the Maharishi Vedic Center

295 Wainui Rd

7 pm

30 April 2009

$5 per person

Biogas.  This is the natural production of methane using organic wastes.  The two speakers are Jo Knight of the NZ Zero Waste Trust who has travelled extensively in Europe and studied large scale biogas plants and Helensville engineer Steve Rodda who has been experimenting with building biogas reactors locally.  Steve is keen to find a suburban community who wants to build a cooperative biogas plant.

Kiwis are getting a helping hand to rid their homes of inefficient appliances over the next few weeks as part of Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ annual recycling days.

On Saturday 28 February (8am to 4pm) in Wellington and Christchurch, and Saturday 7 March (8am to 4pm) in Auckland, the public can bring any brand of old kitchen or laundry appliances to identified drop off points and the items will be recycled for free.  The drop off points are: Wellington – 20 Gough St, Seaview, Lower Hutt; Christchurch – Fisher & Paykel Appliances, 79 Shands Rd, Hornby; and Auckland – Fisher & Paykel Appliances, East Tamaki (entry via 14 Allens Rd)

Furthermore, a limited number of people who drop off their appliances will be rewarded with a discount voucher for a new Fisher & Paykel appliance.

With tens of thousands of appliances put into landfill nationwide each year, the days enable the public to recycle their appliances in an environmentally friendly, convenient manner at no cost. This unique initiative is part of the Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ environmental focus and commitment to make homes more energy efficient.

The company’s Recycling Manager George Gray says last year’s event was a great success and well supported by the public.

“The community really got in behind this initiative and brought in hundreds of appliances for recycling – this meant 17 tonnes of waste was saved from going into landfill,” says Mr Gray.  “We’re anticipating an even better response this year with the programme extended to Wellington and Christchurch. With Kiwis around the country, we hope we can continue to make a positive difference to our environment.

“And with discount vouchers of up to $150 towards new appliances available to a limited number of people, we’re encouraging people to get in to see us as early as possible on the recycling days,” adds Mr Gray.

Fisher & Paykel Appliances recycles over 40,000 kitchen and laundry appliances each year, helping ease the strain on natural resources and avoid potential future hazards associated with dumping into landfills.

Mr Gray says: “Taking these appliances out of use can save householders on energy costs while benefiting the environment at the same time.  For example, outdated fridges are much less energy efficient than new ones, and can use up to three times more electricity.

“We estimate there are thousands of old and inefficient appliances throughout New Zealand, so the potential to save energy and money is huge.”

Mike Underhill, Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) says: “These recycling days are a fantastic initiative.  People often hang on to these appliances because it is a hassle to get rid of them. People who replace their old, inefficient appliances with more energy efficient models will save electricity and money – and there is a benefit to the environment.

“When replacing appliances, EECA recommends that people buy ENERGY STAR qualified models.  The ENERGY STAR mark means that it is in the top 25% of the most energy efficient appliances – and Fisher & Paykel are one of our partners who carry ENERGY STAR appliances”.

The recycling days add to Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ range of environmental initiatives, including a recycling centre that has been operating since 1993, recycling approximately 2,400 tonnes of appliances per year over the last three years.

In 2008, the company also ran a unique fridge retirement programme with EECA, which gave Auckland residents the opportunity to call Fisher & Paykel Appliances in to remove their old, inefficient refrigerators.

In addition, the company re-uses and/or recycles all of its packaging, conducts waste audits on materials that come out of its factories and all of its garden waste is mulched on site and reused.

On Fisher & Paykel Appliances Recycling Days, the following items will be accepted:

• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Washers (top and front loading)
• Dryers
• Dishwashers
• Ovens (wall and freestanding)
• Cooktops (gas and electric)
• Rangehoods
• Waste disposal units
• Microwaves

Old appliances can be dangerous, so Fisher & Paykel Appliances representatives will de-gas them as needed.  The company is not in a position to accept televisions, stereos, mobile telephones, computers or furniture.

For more information visit http://www.fp.co.nz/global/about-us/the-environment/recycling.cfm or call 0800 FPCARE.

“Grey Lynn Waste Free-E-Day” is coming along nicely. The idea is to col Here is the latest agenda. A meeting was held on Tuesday 10th Feb.

Below is the agenda.

Invited Graeme Torkler, Computer Recycling.co.nz to meeting
Asked for demonstrable evidence for compliance with the Basal Convention.
Asked for evidence of where they are sending their goods – This should be sufficient to satisfy us that what they say they do is actually what they do.
Can there be a contribution to the local community?
What can be collected?
Process of handling items for the day?
3. Invited Amber from Harvest Wholefoods to meeting. Ph 376 3107
Amber/Harvest is also organizing an E‐Waste day.
4. Invited Auckland City Council contact:
a. Lindsey Du Preez, Waste Minimisation Officer, Lindsey.duPreez@aucklandcity.govt.nz
Lindsey is supportive and is able to provide advertising in the City Scene. She has asked that we run any publicity by her first to avoid issues over early or late put outs of Inorganic Rubbish.
b. Does the Council get contractors to recover computer gear from the inorganic collection once collected? If so, how is our proposed event keeping the material out of landfill?
c. Council support for event?
d. Eva Lawrence, Community Services Advisor – North, eva.lawrence@aucklandcity.govt.nz
5. Discuss event: Community Waste Free‐E‐Day prior to the local Inorganic Rubbish Collection
Collection of:
o E‐Waste (computer waste)
o Mobile phones & chargers
o Batteries
o Printing Cartridges
6. Inorganic Rubbish Collection dates:
1) Franklin Rd, College Hill, Ponsonby Rd, Jervois Rd, West End Rd (Herne Bay), Surrey Cres,
Richmond Rd, Williamson Ave, Gt Nth Rd (Grey Lynn), Bond St (Grey Lynn), put out Sat 28th
& Sun 29th March
2) West End Rd (Westmere), Garnet Rd, Meola Rd, Old Mill Rd, Surrey Cres, Warnock St, Gt
Nth Rd (Pt Chev), put out Sat 4th & Sun 5th April
3) Pt Chevalier Rd, Walker Rd, put out Sat 11th & Sun 12th April
4) NB: Bond St (Kingsland) Sat 30th & Sun 31st May

http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/services/rubbish/inorganic.asp

7. Event date/s?
a. Weekend prior to start of collections: 14th & 15th Mar or 21st & 22nd Mar
b. Weekends where residents start putting out rubbish: 28th & 29th Mar and/or 4th & 5th Apr
8. Information from National E‐waste Day http://www.eday.org.nz/about-eday.asp ‐ Sunshine
a. National E‐day – October 2009? Link in to national day.
9. Information re: article in Harbour News – Kim
10. Information re: Hazmobile – Sandi Murray ARC – Amie
a. MfE Priority Waste Streams list ‐ IT Industry Product Stewardship Schemes possibly within
the year
b. IT Industry responsibility ‐ Community initiatives/volunteers subsidizing industry (effect:
industry not taking responsibility)
c. Action against rampant consumerism – Promote ethical buying from companies that have
product stewardship schemes or design with end‐of‐life in mind
d. Large volumes
e. Safety ‐ volunteers
f. Traffic management
g. Waste – Broken/damaged material
11. Computer Recycler:
Graeme Torkler at Computer Recycling.co.nz www.computerrecycling.co.nz
Ph: 525 5518 & 027 6113582 Email: info@computerrecycling.co.nz
Address: 51 Carbine Rd, Mt Wellington
Graeme is keen to join us for this event and take away the items collected. The problem area is the handling at the collection point and he will provide a staff member to be present on the day.
12. Site:
Warehouse space
Contact made with Scott & Gordon re: site in Grey Lynn. This site has a loading dock and enough
space?
Other possibilities?
13. Collect Mobile phones – Vodafone
Any type of mobile phone, batteries and chargers – Functional phones are sent to developing
countries through Enable Community for people setting up new businesses. Other phones are
recycled.
Organise mobile phone recycling bin. www.vodafone.co.nz/about/corporate‐responsibility/mobilerecycling‐
action‐plan.pdf
www.vodafone.co.nz/about/corporate‐responsibility/mobile‐recycling.jsp
NB: 4 x people on the GL2030 contact list appear to work for vodafone
14. Collect batteries? ‐ Sandra
15. Collect printing cartridges How
16. Advertising
City Scene – Lindsey du Preez, Ak City Council
Harbour news/Central Leader – Kim actioning
Schools?
Flyers?
17. Signage
Venue?
18. Education/Information/Handouts on day
a. Grey Lynn 2030
b. Computer waste: www.ComputerRecycling.co.nz
c. Hazmobile: www.hazmobile.govt.nz
Contact: Sandi Murray, HazMobile Co‐ordinator, ARC
Ph: 366 2000 xtn: 8642
d. Vodafone: www.vodafone.co.nz/about/corporate‐responsibility/mobile‐recycling‐actionplan.
pdf
www.vodafone.co.nz/about/corporate‐responsibility/mobile‐recycling.jsp
e. Resene paints: www.resene.co.nz/homeown/habitat/pdf/paintwise.pdf
f. Batteries
g. Cartridge World
19. Organise the day/s
a. Koha $1 To cover costs
b. Prize draw hamper of local produce
c. Volunteers
o Gary Stevenson
20. Records
Record numbers/items received/weight ‐ feedback to community
Take photographs of event
2.0 What can be collected by Computer Recycling.co.nz: CHECK
All types of e‐Waste, Computers and Electronic Equipment, Including:
Computer Monitors
Mainframe and Server Computers
P.C.’s, Laptops, Notebooks
Mini Frame Computers
Software
Power Supplies
UPS [uninterruptable Power Supplies]
PABX Systems, Telephone Equipment
Hubs, Routers, Switches
Peripherals
Terminals
Hardware
Laser Printers, Inkjet Printers, Dot Matrix Printers
Electronic Components
PCB’s and Cables
If it’s not on our list, we possibly will dispose of that as well.

http://www.computerrecycling.co.nz/what‐is‐e‐waste.html

3.0 Where this can lead
1. Towards a Waste Free Grey Lynn
2. Permanent local collection site/day in the community
a. Local school, one Saturday a month, some $$ contribution to school from recycling
company
b. Community Resource Recovery Centre
3. People wake up.
4. People talk and hear about the new possibilities
5. People visit the reality and learn how to achieve it themselves
6. Larger projects unfold!