This week’s Green Collar Job Q&A is with Timaru District Council’s Senior Waste Management Officer Ruth Clarke. Ruth manages the waste contract for the Timaru District. It is a comprehensive contract covering kerbside collection, transfer station management, landfill, green waste processing and recycling processing. Ruth plans for waste minimisation activity and carries out all the administrative work associated with council. She also runs the waste exchange for Timaru and Waimate Districts.
Ruth says that her list of things to do is long and her days too short, but finds her job challenging, interesting and worthwhile.
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
We built an ecohouse of mudbricks with solar water heating, solar power, composting toilet with relatively small footprint. Most labour done by ourselves with help from 157 wwoofers and counting! (see www.earthwoodwaimate.blogspot.com)
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
We built the eco-house in Waimate and then I got the job in Timaru, so it is 100km commute but I carpool with two others. I walk to any jobs nearby or get my co-workers to pick up stuff I need if they are out and about. I duplex my printing.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Canterbury/New Zealand?
Apathy-I just wonder if we are going to make the changes needed in time to make the difference for our children.
4. What makes you smile?
My girls
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
People idling ( it doesn’t happen so much here but very common in Japan. I once crossed the lane and turned my neighbour’s car off after it had been idling for 10 minutes. Another time friends and I turned off the key of a car just sitting idling in the street with nobody about- then skedaddled!
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
Orange/russet because I like autumn, especially maples in Japan.
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world?
Kyoto-I lived there for 4 years, the old places are so otherworldly, historic and Asian.
8. What’s your connection to Sift?
Collaborating on a project.
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
My German teacher, strict and scary, but somehow German was my favourite subject.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
Land and the adobe house to secure a living/lifestyle for the girls; the recognition that I have worked for a better end.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
Peak Oil, stronger communities, better use of technology, maybe a rude awakening…
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
I have a friend who left a business because she didn’t agree with the way they were heading ( more corporate) and started a business to pursue her own idealogy of business practice. I admire that she had the conviction to act on her beliefs.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
The border collie is curled up, the steers are still eating (the one called “Stu” is getting fatter!). The pears and apple trees are loaded-bottling fruit on the agenda this weekend.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Bacon and eggs.
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Take one small step at a time –it is a journey.
Tags: Green Collar Job, sustainable living, Timaru District Council, waste, Waste Management, woofers
Great answers, similar to what I would answer. If only we could all be doing as much.
hannah