Tricky topics tackled in recycling message

Waste-Ed’s programme coordinator Acacia Davis-Pio (left) pictured with students (from left) Jasmine Hall, Chloe Carrington and Amiria Rangiuia Lindup, after the Waste-Ed event at Gisborne Girls’ High School. Picture supplied

Students learn about reusable products available for their periods.

What period products to use is not such an easy topic to stand up and talk about.

However, when Waste-Ed came to Gisborne this month they covered it and other tricky topics to help reduce the waste in the region.

Waste-Ed is a company run by Kate Fenwick, a motivational speaker who travels New Zealand to share some straight-talking about waste and how it does not magically disappear when  put at the kerbside and recycling.

Kate was supported with the Waste-Ed conversations by programme co-ordinator Acacia Davis-Pio.

Acacia spoke to more than 700 students from Gisborne Girls’ High School and Turanga Tangata Rite Kura about the Waste Free Period Programme.

It’s an initiative that educates students on all the different reusable products that are available to them for their periods.

Acacia’s relatable talk empowered the students to embrace their cycle and make informed decisions on what products would work best for them.

Funded by the Gisborne District Council, Waste-Ed gave the schools 300 reusable products including menstrual cups and pads to distribute.

They last around four years and can save around 2400 single-use pads or tampons over that time.

Other events from Waste-Ed’s trip to Gisborne last week included a sold-out Foodlovers Masterclass led by Kate and a community workshop attended by about 12 people.

They also spoke about waste education to 35 Beetham Village residents and around 70 council staff.

Feedback from one of the workshop attendees was that one of the interesting facts about recycling was that no lids can be recycled.

Ice cream lids, the tops of margarine containers, milk or bottle tops — none of them are recyclable.

Council liveable communities director Michele Frey said it was because they were flat, which meant they were easily caught up in other recyclables, like cardboard.

“When this happens, the lids inadvertently contaminate that product, making it unsellable and the whole lot has to be taken to landfill.

“Smaller lids are generally a thicker plastic,” she said.

“These lids also get caught up in machinery used in processing, causing breakdown issues and also shorten the life of shredding blades used in processing.

“Plus, everything we recycle can only be recycled if it’s clean,” Ms Frey said.

“Recycling is a commodity bought by companies who have a use for it — and no one has a use for dirty plastics or dirty glass bottles and jars. These need to be washed before they’re recycled.

“Kate’s timely reminder is that it’s up to us, as the consumer, to ensure that after we’ve enjoyed a product we dispose of it properly — and this means making sure it’s clean.”