Health group supports recycling

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 476, 9 March 1993, Page 2

Health group supports recycling

by the Health Watch committee Disposal of waste is a 'hot' environmental issue because of the way it can affect our planet, our lives, our health and the health of our children for generations to come. Refuse, reclamation and recycling are altemative methods of handling waste and there are a number of things we can do to reduce, reuse and recycle waste which this article will look at. Much of what we throw away as rubbish can be re-used: paper, glass, plastic, metal are all valuable resources that many cities and towns now make provisions for recycling. With both Raetihi and Ohakune dumps rapidly approaching their estimated life-spans, altematives need to be looked at. It is encouraging that Waiouru has already initiated a recycling and waste management scheme and that the Waimarino Community Board are now also looking and following their lead as well. The average amount of waste produced by one person in one year is estimated to be: 90 drink

cans, 2 treer worth of paper, 70 food cans, 45 kg of plastics and 107 bottles and jars - in fact the equivalent of 10 times orie person's bodyweight in household rubbish! There is no time to delay facilities for recycling and waste management. They need to be available now. There are plenty of things we as individuals can do to reduce waste and recycle it wherever possible. The following are just a few suggestions: • Don't accept an extra paper/plastic bag in shops if you're only going to throw it away. • Write on both sides of paper, use recycled paper products when possible. • Buy drinks in returnable or recyclable bottles. • Avoid buying over packaged goods. • Are your eyes bigger than your stomach? Don't take more food than you can eat. • Save energy - switch off lights and heaters in rooms not being used, wear an extra jersey rather than turning up the heating. • Use your legs - walk or cycle when you

can rather that driving. • Don't drop litter. Re-using and recycling • Clothes you have finished with can be passed on or given to charities, for example children's clothes to Plunket, opportunity or second-hand shops or the Rest-home shop in Raetihi. • Old toys, books and games will be useful to someone else when you're finished with them so don't throw them away.

• Waste paper, cans, bottles and glass can be given to paper collections and bottle banks. Recycling centres are needed for these. However packaging, bottle tops, etc can be left at kindergartens and pre-school centres for use in children's art work. • Put food waste on the compost heap if you have one. • Actively support the prospect of recycling and efficient waste management for the Ruapehu District.