Tidy Kiwis reap enviro rewards

Not so many years ago, if something wore out or broke it was generally consigned to the tip.

The words re-usable and re-cycling were about as common as the words "environmentally aware".

It is different today, as is evidenced by the approach of companies like Onekawa Collision Repair Centre in Napier.

The company now proudly displays a small but significant acknowledgment of its approach in its front office - something manager Peter Hurring said was the culmination of a two-year focus on becoming more environmentally aware and friendly.

He has been in the panel and paint business for 22 years, and from day one had always been conscious of ensuring that part of the automotive and engineering industry built a good reputation.

A reputation as a responsible part of overall industry. Two years ago he took things a big step further.

He drew the staff together and over the course of a series of meetings they created a set of objectives aimed at enhancing the collision repair industry's awareness of environmental issues.

"We wanted to show that profitability need not compromise environmental awareness," he said, adding that winning the Crash Repair Association's Environmental Award had been both valuable for the staff but also as an acknowledgement that they were achieving their objectives.

The centre's commitment to the environment is demonstrated in many ways, and they caught the attention of the Crash Repair Association representatives who checked it out.

The company invested in a Waterborne Paint System and a solvent recycling machine to ensure clean running in the paint section. Worn or damaged and unrepairable plastics, metals and glass are all recycled.

A document "management system" was also implemented to cut down on paper waste.

Little is thrown out.

Mr Hurring said waste that could be separated and re-cycled is done on site - it has become an accepted part of the work process.

Staff are all trained in the use of equipment and there is ongoing training and updating of safe environmental work practices.