According to a pre-Christmas newspaper report
In the month following Christmas Wellingtonians send 40 per cent more rubbish to the Southern Landfill than in any other month.
This is 1000 tonnes of rubbish, which is the equivalent weight of 76 double decker buses. It’s not commercial waste either, just household waste.
That’s a mind boggling amount of waste and one neither the city nor the planet can continue to keep absorbing.
It’s no secret we are a wasteful society and responsibility for this excess waste must be undertaken at all levels.
Wellington City Council is now accepting applications for a new Waste Minimisation Seed Fund which focuses on diverting organic waste from the landfill. Up to $100,000 of funding per year for the next three years would be made available to successful applicants.
Changes in waste management processes can be easily done at home as well as in the workplace and in business practices. Each small, but meaningful footstep towards waste reduction and a more sustainable lifestyle is a step towards lightening our impact on the planet and creating less waste.
The adage Reduce, Reuse, Recycle rings true. For instance did you know you can recycle outdated or non-functioning electronic devices at the Tip Shop?
Before dropping them off, remember to sign out of any accounts linked to those devices (such as Apple, Samsung or Google accounts) and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to remove personal information (such as photos and videos) properly. Find out more here about the Tip Shop.
Wellington’s Sustainability Trust, is a social enterprise that supports sustainable living and offers advice and guidance to living more sustainably in the home setting.
For businesses there is the Sustainable Business Network, a membership based organisation offering local support along with resources and training.
To help you on your journey check out these resources from the Wellington City Library collection.
Sustainability : the basics / Jacques, Peter
“Sustainability is concerned with the issues around the ongoing and mutual preservation of both society and the environment. It is a widely used term and supposed goal for many governments but it is also easily misunderstood. Sustainability: The Basics offers an accessible and interdisciplinary introduction to the concept, and discusses key questions such as: How do we decide who or what should be sustained? How can we ensure that the world’s resources are distributed fairly? What lessons can we learn from the collapse of previous civilizations? Sustainability studies is in a position to ask some of the most interesting questions about human purpose, identity, modernity, ethics, and the nature of “progress”. This book is an ideal starting point for anyone who wants to know more about we can ‘hold up’ civilization, humanity, and the world we live in”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)
Sustainability made simple : small changes for big impact / Byrd, Rosaly
“Sustainability Made Simple explores the relationship between everyday life and the intricate global environmental issues of today, illustrating how small changes in daily routines and mentalities can add up to a big impact.” (Catalogue)
The sustainable(ish) living guide : everything you need to know to make small changes that make a big difference / Gale, Jen
“Easy, do-able, down to earth ideas and suggestions for everyone to help save the planet. If you want to save the planet, but your to-do list is already pretty long and remembering your re-usable coffee cup feels like a Herculean task, then this is the book for you. Covering every aspect of our lives from the stuff we buy and the food we eat, to how we travel, work, and celebrate. This book provides stacks of practical, down to earth ideas to slot into your daily life, alongside a gentle kick up the butt to put your newfound knowledge into action. Practical tips include unsubscribing from all the tempting emails that drop into your inbox with details of the newest clothing range or the latest sale, and keeping a mug next to your kettle to work out how much water you actually need to boil each time, as over filling kettles costs British households £68 million on energy bills each year. Find out how to fit “sustainable living” into your life, in a way that works for you. Change your impact without radically changing your life and figure out the small steps you can make that will add up to make a big difference (halo not included).” (Catalogue) (E-book format)
Also available in print format
Circular economy / Ritchie, Kyle J.
“A circular economy is an economic system designed to save money, eliminate waste, and achieve deep sustainability. No-brainer, right? Circular Economy For Dummies explains why the old way of doing things (the take-make-waste model of a linear economy) is fast going the way of the dinosaurs, and it gets you ready to think circular. From business processes and material lifecycles to circular design in just about every industry, this book is a fascinating glimpse into the sustainable future we urgently need. Whether you’re a designer looking to create better products, a manufacturer looking to streamline your operations, or simply looking to develop a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, this book shows you how. Learn how to innovate for a circular economy, how to turn trash into treasure, and how to calculate the (potentially large) amount of money this will save you. And bonus you’ll feel good doing the right thing and being a part of our regenerative future” — provided by the publisher.” (Catalogue)
This article from McKinsey provides guidance on setting up a sustainability programme that is right for your company. Organizing for sustainability success: Where, and how, leaders can start
As sustainability becomes more of a strategic and operational imperative, executives must lead the way to set up a sustainability organization that’s right for their companies.
Wild kinship : conversations with conscious entrepreneurs / Hemmingson, Monique
“Wild Kinship is a frank yet inspiring, intimate collection of conversations with the best in conscious small business”–Back cover.” (Catalogue)
A better planet : 40 big ideas for a sustainable future
“A practical, bipartisan call to action from the wold’s leading thinkers on the environment and sustainability. Sustainability has emerged as a global priority over the past several years. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change and the adoption of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals through the United Nations have highlighted the need to address critical challenges such as the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, water shortages, and air pollution. But in the United States, partisan divides, regional disputes, and deep disagreements over core principles have made it nearly impossible to chart a course toward a sustainable future. This book offers fresh thinking and forward-looking solutions from environmental thought leaders across the political spectrum. The book’s forty essays cover such subjects as ecology, environmental justice, Big Data, public health, and climate change, all with an emphasis on sustainability. The book focuses on moving toward sustainability through actionable, bipartisan approaches based on rigorous analytical research.” (Catalogue)
Plastic free : the inspiring story of a global environmental movement and why it matters / Prince-Ruiz, Rebecca
“‘I’m going plastic free next month, who wants to join me?’ When Rebecca Prince-Ruiz asked her colleagues this question in 2011, she had no idea that less than a decade later it would inspire a global movement of 250 million people in 177 countries to reduce their plastic use. Plastic Free tells the incredible story of how a simple community initiative grew into one of the world’s most successful environmental movements. It also shares tips from people around the world who have taken on the Plastic Free July challenge and significantly reduced their waste. Plastic Free is a book about positive change and reminds us that small actions can make a huge impact, one step, and piece of plastic, at a time.” (Catalogue) Also available as an e-book
If you need more information please contact the Prosearch team at the library. We can help you find information across a range of perspectives and resources. All enquiries are treated in confidence.
