Eco team on mission to minimise gala waste

JULIA WADE

Along with the thousands of visitors flocking to one of Mangawhai’s New Year star attractions, the Domain Gala, comes masses of waste, although this year is set to be different with organisers of the legendary event teaming up with a local eco-group.

Mangawhai Domain Society (MDS) and Kaipara’s official environmental advisory organisation, Sustainable Kaipara (SK) are tackling the problem of the gamut of food scraps, containers and drinking vessels left over post-gala which usually end up at the tip.

Sustainable Kaipara’s Stephanie Gibson says the popular event this year will feature five waste stations offering recycling and compost bins as well as one for landfill ‘as a last resort’.

“The proactive gala team are keen to further minimise what waste goes to landfill and will be also encouraging vendors to use compostable packaging for the next year,” she says. “They’re intent on creating a truly zero-waste event.”

Domain secretary Renee Hanley along with chair Robert de Koning are coordinating the 2021 gala, the major fundraiser of the facility which contributes substantially to the essential costs of keeping the resource operating. With the setup of the bins, Hanley says it will be interesting to see what impact they will have on the amount of waste taken to the landfill.

“We’re very pleased to be working with Sustainable Kaipara and really excited about the support they’ve offered so far,” she says. “Going forward we would like to have as little waste, food scraps and containers as possible at the gala, so we are asking our vendors to look at their waste, though a lot of them already do.”

Contents of the compost bin, which ideally shall only contain food and compostable containers, will be taken to the trial compost system, set up in Mangawhai Community Gardens earlier in 2020 after SK received a grant from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund.

However the five bins will need to be overseen to ensure they are used correctly and to help with any confusion about what goes where Gibson says.

“We are is looking for ‘waste warrior’ volunteers so if you have a couple of hours to spare on the day, we would love your support,” she says. “To also help close the loop on resource use, when you attend the gala, please remember your reusables, keep-cups, plates and cutlery set – it’s a good habit to get into wherever people go this summer.”

§ Sustainable Kaipara is on a mission to transform waste at events in the district. If you have an event coming up get in touch to work with the team at sustainablekaipara.org, or via facebook. They can help with bins, services and signage.

Domain secretary Renee Hanley and Sustainable Kaipara’s Stephanie Gibson with some of the colourful eye-catching signage to help visitors ‘eco-store’ their rubbish on gala day. PHOTO/JULIA WADE