SUMMARY OF ALL SOLUTIONS IDEAS AND LINKS

To get ideas on actions you could take in your business, or find things you already do and are therefore already eligible for Green Scheme Certification, flick through the lists below. There is a lot of cross over but also, even if it’s not your industry, there are things that you may do anyway. If you do more than 2-3 of these below and/or see 2-3 you feel would be very easy to implement in your business or you feel strongly enough you’d like to try contact us to be part of the Green Scheme on 021 428 037 or email info@businesswhangaparaoa.co.nz and let’s celebrate your local business!!

Actions all Businesses can consider taking

  1. Encourage working from home or incentivize office carpooling, taking the bus, walking and biking

  2. Have a go at measuring your office carbon footprint on this free, on-line, government site: www.tools.business.govt.nz/climate/ or get a member from Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste to come in and work through with you -

    • How the Climate Action Toolbox works -

      • Find key areas where you can reduce emissions and learn from other businesses taking action.

      • Measure the carbon footprint of your business. Set a target and track progress over time.

      • Get started on your step-by-step plan to reduce emissions. Boost your reputation while building for the future.

  3. Request a free waste audit to work out what can be recycled and where with Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste. This is an easy way for you to find out what more you can do with your general business waste. An expert will come in, take away your waste, analyse it and come back to you with recommendations. It is minimal effort from you and can be very interesting. To organise call Betsy on 021 0826 8196.

  4. Invest in smart power strips that automatically that turn off standby mode (see image below) - it’s amazing how much power a simple action like this can save over time! You can purchase these from the Smart Home Shop or any of your usual outlets such as Bunnings, JB Hi-Fi, etc.

  5. Put your ventilation systems on a timer to go off at night - again you can do this with a smart power strip or plug.

  6. Install motion-activated light switches. You can read more at Ecopoint.co.nz and you can purchase these at outlets such as Bunnings.

  7. Change light bulbs to LED to save power and money. Light Bulb options: Philips has developed an Ultra Efficient light bulb that uses new technology to cut carbon emissions, reduce material waste, and lower energy usage. With an amazing 50,000 hour lifetime it lasts more than 3 times longer than the Philips LED bulb equivalents — and uses up to 60% less energy *, just what is needed for a more sustainable planet. Available at many locations including Bunnings, here is an article on the bulb advantages. Can last up to 50 years.

  8. Information on costs for replacement of flourecent lights with LED or alternative options: https://genless.govt.nz/for-everyone/at-home/use-led-lighting/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw9fqnBhDSARIsAHlcQYTuw2tD7YGg6AyFqlBu8JJlDHfyB2r8xl9Fq8QEgpZtAv6-prD9qyIaApvNEALw_wcB

    https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/led-bulb-buying-guide

  9. Ensure new equipment is long -lasting and energy efficient (eg fridge) by checking the star rating on the label or Consumer NZ and checking fridge seals.

  10.  In warmer seasons open the doors instead of using the air conditioner

  11. Go paperless - Reduce paper waste by using both sides for client notes or make notes by ipad or if you need to print do double sided printing

  12. Email paperless eftpos receipts to clients and digitize documents for minimal print

  13. Shred excess paper and put in compost or use for packaging - ensure staff awareness

  14. Recycle balance of paper (eg use TIMG) (https://timg.co.nz/about-us/) who offer services such as automations, online back ups, secure document destruction and eWaste services.

  15. Get broken equipment repaired at the monthly Repair Café the first Saturday of each month at the Orewa Community House opposite the Orewa Baptist Church

  16. Check out what the Whangaparaoa Community Recycling Centre-accepts - batteries, polystyrene, many types of plastic, e-waste, cardboard, light bulbs and much more www.hibiscuscoastzerowaste.co.nz - See -

    • The following are items that are available for refill at the HCZW station

      Bring empty dishwash, laundry liquid containers to the WCRC Ecoshop to refill - Ecostore Grapefruit Dishwash, Ultra-Sensitive Laundry Liquid and Lemongrass Handwash

      The following are a list of what is accepted by HCZW in their e waste drop offs for recycling -

      • TVs and Monitors

        CRT TV, Rear Projection TV, Flat Panel, CRT Computer Monitor, LCD Computer Monitor

      • PCs

        Desktops & servers, Laptops, Modems, swtiches, routers, computer speakers, (per unit), Data Destruction, UPS, Laptop Battery

      • Printers

        Small Printers/scanners/faxs small (less than 0.5m3), Large Printers/scanners/faxs small (more than 0.5m3), Photocopiers small/med, Photocopiers large, Copier toner

      • Household Appliances

        Small appliances, heaters/fans, vacuums, dehumifiers, microwaves

      • Consumer Electronics

        DVD & VCRs, Steros systems, Speakers per unit

      • Other

        HH batteries, Washing machines, dryers, dishwashers

  17. Donate magazines (if you have a waiting room) to hospice/op shops

  18. If your office deals in any metal based items, separate out to send to the scrap metal works in Silverdale - We have two local works at Alexander Scrap Metals, 26 and 35 Forge Rd, Silverdale - https://alexanderscrapmetals.co.nz/ and The Tin Men, 63 Foundry Rd, Silverdale - https://tinmen.co.nz/

  19. Put reminder stickers on bins for staff awareness and action

  20. If you serve tea/coffee to clients (or in general in your staff kitchen) buy and use cups from second hand stores and use sugar bowls not sugar sachets

  21. Separate soft plastics - these can be dropped off to a number of local locations including Countdown stores, The Warehouse and New World Orewa. https://www.recycling.kiwi.nz/store-locator

  22. General Sustainability - Sustainable Business Network Free Self Assessment Tool - https://sustainable.org.nz/docket/sustainability-self-assessment/

  23. Measure your carbon footprint. Carbon footprint assessment tool for businesses & offsetting options - https://carbonclick.com/business/ - Carbon footprint assessment tool for businesses & offsetting options - https://www.toitu.co.nz/what-we-offer/carbon-management - you can start with their Starter Q&A Checklist which you can find here - https://sustainable.org.nz/media/tmlbeg12/sbn_docket_q-a-supplier-checklist.pdf

  24. Responsible Banking & Investing - Mindful Money is a charity that promotes ethical investment via their tool that checks what funds and types of investments Kiwisavers and investment funds are putting money in to. https://mindfulmoney.nz/

  25. Research and switch to clean power sources - Canstar Blue - A summary of power companies and if they use renewable sources - https://www.canstarblue.co.nz/energy/green-power-nz/

    Or NZ Compare - a guide to renewable power companies in New Zealand - https://www.nzcompare.com/n/power/the-future-of-renewable-energy-nz

  26. For Retail/Hospitality/High Discard mainly: Join a share scheme around pick up/drop off of certain products to save time, money and petrol. Perhaps take turns on a roster system with a weekly/monthly collection to collect items and drop off for items such as –

    • Foils/items for scrap metal/tin man for hairdressers

    • Clothing items from retail

    • Larger recycle items

    • Soft plastics

    • Larger items, potential for shared trailer across an area or the Peninsula? (This could be an option for the Op Shop district)?

    • This could also save on dump costs for larger items

  27. Solar Panel potential: Suggestion – If landlord is prepared to pay for the mounting brackets then tenant could pay for solar panels. At the end of a tenancy the landlord would retain the mounting brackets on their roof and the tenant could either offer the solar panels to –

    • The next tenant

    • To the Landlord to use and charge accordingly if they wish to the next tenant

    • Take them with them to any next premise;

    • or sell on

    Light Force - Solar providers, modular and hybrid grid systems available

    https://lightforce.co.nz/

  28. Inorganic collections: To find out details about inorganic collections and see your local area dates check the Auckland Council website at https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rubbish-recycling/inorganic-collections/Pages/default.aspx

  29. B-Corp Certification -B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials - https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/certification/

    In the Office Kitchen:

  30. Keep some tiffins for takeaway meals and a Keep Cup for takeaway coffee (see images below)

  31. Give named Keep Cups as office gifts

  32. Don’t run the tap continuously when washing or cleaning

  33. Set up a Resource Recovery Station in the Office for sorting out food scraps, soft plastics, coffee pods, paper, bottles, cans and different types of plastic for recycling (see image below) - Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste can organise this for you

  34. Ask your local café if they will give a discount for bringing a Keep Cup or if reusable cups can be taken away and returned. Drifters Cafe in Orewa do and we are sure many others will if you are going to use them for regular takeaways. Then have a few spare Keep Cups in the staff room and encourage use by staff.

  35. Add dry packets of cleaning products to add to water to reuse plastic containers for cleaning spray and wipe or refill. As noted above - The following are items that are available for refill at the HCZW station - Ecostore Grapefruit Dishwash, Ultra-Sensitive Laundry Liquid and Lemongrass Handwash. Alternatively you can purchase enviro friendly cleaning products from https://www.insinc.co.nz/. Alternatively consider using Enjo microfibre cloths for cleaning as it just uses water to clean, so no need for products - read more and purchase at https://www.enjo.com.au/ (for all types of cleaning)

  36. If you don’t have any resource sorting station just get an office food caddy to separate out coffee grinds, teabags, food scraps compostables and take home to put in your food waste bin or deliver to HCZW’s free Sharewaste bins

  37. Invest in re-sealable, reusable containers for office leftovers

  38. Source environmentally positive gifts for clients/staff at the Whangaparaoa Community Recycling Ecoshop (see egs below) or support local by buying local and source ethical gifts for clients/staff

    Health and Beauty:

  39. There are a number of actions businesses in the Health and Beauty sector can consider including -

    • Consider joining the Sustainable Salons scheme. Sustainable Salons help salons reduce their impact and up to 95% of their waste. There is a one-time set-up fee and an ongoing weekly membership fee but this does include your bins, pick up service, etc. https://sustainablesalons.org/about

    • Use a usage bowl to measure colour waste both to reduce and to monetise then put out for landfill instead of pouring away

    • Virgin hair can be made into wigs or can be composted (breakdown does take a while)

    • Long hair can be sent to make into wigs

    • Separate foils, colour tubes, blades and cans for scrap metal

    • Use on clients and sell a product range that uses green packaging and ingredients

    • Put reminder stickers on bins for staff awareness and action

    • Encourage washing bowls in luke warm water for power savings

    • Recycle hairdryers and where possible get repaired - There is a Repair Cafe the first Sat of every month in Orewa. https://repaircafe.doughnuteconomicsnz.com/

    • Reuse necktowels and gloves - no single use

    • Don’t run the tap continuously when preparing products or cleaning

    High Discarded Materials:

  40. There are a number of actions businesses in the High Discarded Materials sector can consider including -

    • Introduce recycle bins if not already doing so and educate staff/contractors (even if not used by all, at least some recycling by contractors is better than none at all!). Consider a 3 bin system on construction sites separating out recyclable materials and cleanfill from the landfill bin

    • To avoid over ordering design houses around eco materials for better efficiency and less waste

    • Be part of a share scheme to share resources or over orders either between your own company jobs or with other firms

    • Separate out metal-based items to send to the scrap metal recyclers in Silverdale

    • Use refill/recycle print cartridges - if you use toner this can be recycled at the Toner Recycling Centre, 3 Rothwell Ave, Rosedale - 0800 180 160

    • Consider if something can be repurposed - if so advertise on social media, offer to The Men’s Shed to repurpose or CivilShare, TradeMe or made available to demolition companies with good circular recycle systems

    • If you are in the building industry you may consider contacting Sustain and Enable (https://se.org.nz) to get ideas and optimise your building sustainability. They also produce a useful brochure - Building or Developing Brochure

    • Recycle cardboard and other packaging - you can get a separate bin for cardboard or drop off locally to either the Whangaparaoa Recycling Depot at 637 Whangaparaoa Rd or Silverdale Re:Sort Transfer Station at 101 Foundry Road.

    • Send cable drums for recycling - J A Russell take back their cable drums for recycling

    • Sell copper and wiring to metal recyclers

    • Plastic water tanks and plastic piping can be recycled through Silverdale Plumbing World - https://www.plumbingworld.co.nz/bailey-tanks-recycling-project - Plumbing World also accept other PVC plastics. Call to find out more 09 421 9052 - probably other large companies do the same so check with your supplier.

    • Offer plastic backed papers to craft and art classes for repurposing or advertise on social. Any paper that's coated in a material like wax, plastic or foil (such as metallic wrapping paper or some Christmas cards) can't be recycled. Glossy paper is accepted in all local recycling programs, provided the paper does not have a plastic coating. If the glossy paper is easy to tear, it should be ok. If you're not sure, it's better to be safe and dispose of it in the rubbish.

    • Track bin receipts to reduce waste this can also help reduce costs

    • Consider offering Katz board as an alternative where appropriate for corflute signage

    • Large ACM signs can be taken to the WCRC

    • Polystyrene can be recycled either through WCRC or Abilities on the North Shore

    • Offer your off-cuts to local artists, classes for reuse

    • Consider applying to the Auckland Council WMIF grant for help with setting up systems to divert C&D materials from landfill or the Helensville Community Recycling Centre accepts many C&D materials 022 430 3622 helensvillecommunityrecycling@gmail.com. C&D materials generally consist of concrete, wood (from buildings), asphalt (from roads and roofing shingles), gypsum (the main component of drywall), metals, bricks, glass, plastics, salvaged building components (doors, windows, and plumbing fixtures), trees, stumps, earth, and rock from clearing sites

    • Waste measuring for construction

      Construction and demolition waste is made up of a wide variety of materials, including concrete, plasterboard, wood, steel, brick and glass. Every year, New Zealand industries and households discard over 3 million tonnes of construction and demolition debris to landfills and cleanfills. Averaged across the population, this represents about one tonne per person.

    • Mangawhai programme: Getting big builders on side to sort materials - Waste busters - Mark Gains CRC 09 945 3980 manager@mahurangiwaste busters.nz -  Trish Allen - Contact

    • Demolition companies usually work under good circular recycle practices

    Hospitality:

  41. Use a pressing machine for plastic bottles to save on space and waste costs

  42. Have Keep Cups available for sale

  43. Put plastics under the coffee steamer to soften and reduce in size for waste saving

  44. Only print customer receipts when asked for

  45. Train staff in sustainable practices

  46. Use the City to Farm Project for food scrap diversion- https://www.citytofarm.co.nz/ - join now!

  47. Sell end-of-day food on the Foodprint app, or give to local food pantries or organisations

  48. Offer free water - Refill NZ - Where you can get your water bottle refilled for free - https://refillnz.org.nz/ - register yourself on this service

  49. Put reminder stickers on bins for staff awareness and action

  50. Grow your own mini herb garden

  51. Food Print - App where end of day food is listed and sold at cost price to connect consumers with affordable food that would otherwise be wasted or unfit to sell - https://www.foodprint.org.nz/

  52. Food Scraps & Food Resource

  53. Food Rescue & Supply

  54. Retail (second hand store focus)

  55. Recycle paper/books

  56. Label clothing items with paper labels and safety pins, if too hard staples are better than plastic tags

  57. Track bin receipts to reduce waste this can also help reduce costs

  58. Advertise your unsold items through social media for upcycling/repurposing or offer your unsold items to local artists, classes

  59. Cut off cords from electrical items for recycling

  60. Make up rag bags for free pick up and use by local tradies or sell them

  61. Fabric Rescue: Intercept Fabric Rescue - A programme developed and run by Whangarei Salvation Army Family Store – looking at getting support to get this off the ground in Whangaparaoa also. https://www.interceptfabricrescue.net/ - there may be an opportunity to collaborate in some way?

Smart power strip

Resource Recovery Station - the base holds bags for sorting plastics, metals, glass and coffee pods

Tiffin

Keep Cup