The team at Res.Awesome love supporting community reuse in action. Moving towards zero-waste means taking many pathways and investing in multiple solutions. Creating results that are higher up the zero-waste hierarchy than just recycling.

Refuse and Reuse is at the top of the zero waste hierarchy, and these are new old skills that we need to rediscover and part of our infrastructure system we must invest in. We are pleased to see that there is investment happening in this space locally from the Dunedin City Council. With these new upgrades to our curbside recycling systems being put in place over the coming years, we also need to invest in a reuse economy for all the other stuff that needs to be rehomed, and rediscover others’ treasures.

This is why we at Res.Awesome support and are now collaborating with The Restore Dunedin, our Kaiwhakaara Fi was invited to join the Restore Dunedin’s committee table as they go through some exciting upgrades.

The Restore Dunedin supports Habitat for Humanity’s Dunedin efforts to support the community with low-cost housing and housing repair.

Habitat for Humanity New Zealand is a not-for-profit organisation that works in partnership with people of goodwill and families in housing need, to eliminate sub-standard housing.

When you shop or donate goods to the Restore you are supporting your local community to have better housing. Now that is Reuse in action.

Achieving a circular waste economy will require action on many levels and will mean we must transition to using only renewable materials and energy sources. A zero-waste way of life will mean adopting new habits… and recycling is just one part of a much more comprehensive waste minimisation process. When looking at the zero-waste hierarchy, recycling actually sits pretty low on the list!

Product stewardship is about the right people taking responsibility for the products we see available on the market and hopefully engaging in a bit of future-proofing for forthcoming generations. It involves redesigning the product supply chain to ensure we are not doing unnecessary and preventable damage. Product stewardship is regulated in order to increase circular resource use and shift the responsibility for managing products onto the producers, importers and retailers; this involves taking responsibility for the items when they have come to the end of their life-span and thinking about the potential impacts these products have on our communities and Papatuanuku.

The school holidays are fast approaching and Res.Awesome is here to help! During this time we understand many parents will be frantically trying to compile a list of fun, budget-friendly activities to keep the kiddies entertained. With the weather beginning to look decidedly more Wintery, having a handy list of indoor projects is imperative to ensure everyone is happy. Get creative with reusability and see what amazing ideas your kids come up with when it comes to fashioning new toys, games or art. Set up a crafternoon with some regular recyclable household items; bottle tops, cardboard boxes/cylinders, egg cartons, plastic bottles. Watch your kids unleash their creativity!

The fast-paced nature of modern life often means we find ourselves participating in a ‘throwaway culture’ in which our food packaging and service-ware are designed to be disposable. Takeaway containers, plastic bottles, glass bottles, plastic bags, boxes, condiment packets, plastic cutlery, coffee cups, lids and napkins are a massive part of the hospitality supply chain. Much of this avoidable waste is generated at large community events; local food stalls and food trucks often rely on disposable service-ware to provide their goods and services. The great news is the Res.Awesome team know the perfect solution for diverting unnecessary waste from landfills. Wash Stations are one component of initiating an alternative, reuse economy.

It's important to know where our waste is coming from so that we can make moves towards zero waste alternatives; within our budget of course, and one step at a time! Many households can agree that their waste problem is getting a little out of hand, but simply do not know where to start when it comes to tackling their trash. Without a good idea of what our waste is really made up of or the habits that contributed to its sheer size (and stench!)- it is hard to engage in the correct management of our waste. We totally understand why many people struggle to know where to start - which is why the team at Res.Awesome are here to help!

Recycling plastic can be a confusing task for many people. Our current system relies on numbers to identify different plastics so we can recycle our materials accordingly. This blog post will be dedicated to breaking down what those pesky numbers mean and how we can utilise them to dispose of our waste responsibly.

As all of our Res.Awesome followers will have gathered by now…. Plastic is terrible for the environment and we are straight up not a fan! Most plastic has a very short lifespan, especially the stuff we use to wrap up and preserve our food. Around 32% of the plastic we use in Aotearoa ends up in our natural environment; damaging and polluting our Papatuanuku. We are here to share with you a positive and hopeful solution to some of our plastic kitchen waste; Beeswax wraps!

Coca Cola is one of the biggest companies in the world and was the world’s worst plastic polluter for the fourth year in a row in 2021. This was confirmed by Break Free From Plastic’s annual report 2021. Coca Cola produces over 120 billion plastic bottles every year with many of these harmful products ending up in our oceans and polluting waterways, our ecosystems, our kai and our people. Our Res.Awesome followers know we are amidst a global plastic crisis. Microplastic and plastic waste has become inescapable - with more plastic still being produced.. The Coca-Cola Company have announced they will aim to make 25% of their global packaging reusable by 2030.

Let us introduce you to the Kiwi Bottle Drive; an initiative designed with the aim to educate the public AND our politicians on the many benefits of a comprehensive Container Return Scheme. The Kiwi Bottle Drive is New Zealand’s campaign for bottle deposits. They have been working alongside communities, councils and organisations for over 20 years to get a bottle deposit scheme and start building a zero waste society.

Many of us don’t think twice about dipping into our local coffee shop to grab a cup of Jo on our way to work or grabbing a pre-made smoothie from the supermarket when our mornings become a little too hectic to make ourselves a proper breakfast. While many of us consider ourselves lucky to have such convenient options, the fast and casual nature of takeaway dining habits are not holding up so well on the sustainability front. The fast-paced nature of modern life often means we find ourselves participating in a ‘throwaway culture’ in which our food packaging and service-ware are designed to be disposable.

It is time to shine a spotlight on one of our favourite change agents in New Zealand, Laura Cope from UYO (Use Your Own) and Takeaway Throwaways! This badass, environmental pro-activist, waste crusader has been making waves around the country with her volunteer-based Use Your Own cup initiative. UYO is a not for profit enterprise that encourages people to steer clear of single-use cups with positive messaging and a nationwide presence. UYO has a very accessible online cafe guide which has various options for finding the right cafe for you.

The team at Res.Awesome is excited to announce our upcoming event, The Waste Warrior Workshop which will be held on February 16th. This workshop is specifically designed to encourage behaviour change - which is the key component in reducing Aotearoa’s waste flow. Knowing what can be recycled and how is the first step in ensuring we are recycling responsibly. In this workshop we cover a wide variety of topics. We will learn about where our products come from and the materials used to make them. We will cover where our waste goes and explore the whole system; from the extraction of resources, to disposal.

The global population has recently turned its collective attention to the imminent threat of global warming and the dire effects it will have on our flora, fauna and iwi. It is no wonder most businesses are concerned about maintaining a clean, green image. To turn a blind eye to the damage being done to our world, would seem callous and uncaring - which would not be good for business!