Success at Ngāmotu for the Coastal Walkway Cleanup
On Sunday the 2nd of April, over 40 volunteers spent their morning picking up rubbish from Ngāmotu Beach to the New Plymouth Wind Wand.
9:30am, a group of volunteers is starting the clean-up at Ngāmotu Beach.
Organised by the Sustainable Taranaki Volunteers programme and the Taranaki Conservationists, the Coastal Walkway Clean-up was a great success. Many people came to be involved in the clean-up and a large quantity of rubbish was successfully removed from the surrounding environment, sorted, and recycled or reused when possible.
Support from the local community
The event was supported by Bach on Breakwater Cafe & Restaurant, Oceans Alive Dive Training & Shop and Todd Energy Aquatic Centre. All our volunteers were rewarded by Bach on Breakwater with a hot drink and a scone, and vouchers from Oceans Alive and the Aquatic Centre were also given to some lucky Waste Warriors! We thank these local businesses for their amazing support.
Over 40 people, representing all age groups (from kids with parents to young adults and experienced volunteers), joined forces and spent an hour and a half walking and picking up rubbish from Ngāmotu Beach all the way to the Wind Wand making use of the famous and beautiful New Plymouth Coastal Walkway.
Poster of the Coastal Walkway Clean-up in New Plymouth.
A 40% rate of diversion from the landfill
7.5 bags of rubbish (60 litres of material per bag) were collected and 3 of those bags were sorted, cleaned and recycled at the Junction - Zero Waste Hub following the clean-up. One full bag of plastic bottles & containers (1, 2, & 5), one full bag of metal cans, and one bag of glass. That is a 40% rate of diversion from the landfill - a great result for rubbish exposed to the elements! A few balls, cutlery, a dog bowl and a suitcase in good condition were also among the items recovered and are now at the Junction Reuse Shop!
Photo of all the rubbish collected by the volunteers.
What can we do to reduce the waste we produce?
Dave (Junction Zero-Waste Education Coordinator) was able to engage with all the volunteers during the sorting, and he discussed upcycling, recycling and how we can better protect our beautiful taiao (environment).
A few key things to consider are reducing the packaging we purchase every day; using reusable cups for coffee and reusable containers for takeaways; picking unpackage items over packaged items and when we produce waste trying our very best to reuse it; compost it (at home or at a nearby community garden); upcycle or recycle it. Try to avoid sending material to the landfill and when you cannot please try to dispose of all your rubbish properly.
A passionate discussion about reducing waste concluded the event.
Be involved! We need YOU!
A similar clean-up will be organised in South Taranaki on 29 April in Hāwera at Ōhawe Beach (1pm). If you would like to be involved in volunteering in Taranaki, please sign up here and you will receive regular opportunities in our beautiful region. Stay connected if you would like to help - we need all of you!
Read more about Volunteering and Reducing Waste:
Alternative Recycling at the Junction (recycling wall, battery recycling and Tetrapak recycling)
You will also find lots of information about reducing, reusing and recycling rubbish here
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