East Coast community bottle drive pays cash for 2400 containers in recycling push

A bottle drive was held at Wharekahika/Hicks Bay and more than 2000 items were collected. Among those involved were, back row (from left) Kyan Rangihuna, Ripeka Te Kani, Marina Ngatai, Ani Pahuru-Huriwai, Justina Woo, and Tawhai Kururangi. Front: Serenity Taylor Hubbard, Kaea Taylor Hubbard, Chase Rickard, Ashleigh Hovell, Arapeta Waikari-Reedy, Jo McKay (Tairawhiti Environment Centre), Eva Jean Buchanan and Patricia Taylor Hubbard.

Children got into the spirit of reducing waste at a recycling drive which saw more than 2000 items collected in return for a cash refund at Wharekahika/Hicks Bay.

“Many people will remember taking their bottles in for a refund in the 70s. It’s time to bring it back,” Tairāwhiti Environment Centre (TEC) said in a press release.

TEC said 2417 items were collected and $483.40 was distributed for refunds.

Almost half of the items - 46% - were glass, 31% were plastic, 22% were cans and 1% were tetra items.

“Zero Waste Aotearoa was looking for partners to run bottle drive events as part of their campaign to introduce legislation for mandatory container return schemes to Aotearoa,” the TEC release said.

“Tairāwhiti Environment Centre was keen to showcase the great work that Paratoa do by including them in this national campaign.”

Paratoa (Waste Warriors) is a kaupapa of Wharekahika-based Te Aroha Kanarahi Trust.

“We currently have a situation in Tairāwhiti where the recycling volumes are low, litter is high and the cost to get materials back sits with councils and ratepayers,” TEC said.

“Container return schemes could change all that and create jobs and fundraising opportunities for our communities as well.”

Te Aroha Kanarahi Trust chair Ani Pahuru-Huriwai said she was “pleasantly surprised” by the response from the community, especially the tamariki.

“This trial has proven a great success for our little hāpori (community). A container return scheme here would undoubtedly reduce litter and increase recycling.

“In a couple of hours, we were able to distribute half of the cash and will have another bottle drop on December 16. Our tamariki are really enthusiastic. We’re growing the next generation of kaitieki.”

Te Aroha Kanarahi Trust will run the second bottle drive and will have another $500 to distribute.

“Container deposit return schemes have been implemented in 32 countries as a way to encourage drink container recycling and reduce waste,” TEC said.

“These schemes typically involve adding a small deposit to the price of a drink, which can be reclaimed when the empty container is returned to a collection drop-off point.”