Source: Myzerowaste.com

I feel it might be time to start the mantra “Waste Not, Want Not” again after reading the below article from the NZ Herald on New Zealander’s wasting $750million in food a year. That is massive. Think of all the wasted energy in labour, food growth (sun, water), chemicals, fuel for tractors, fuel for ships to bring some of it here, transportation, energy used in our distribution warehouses, energy used in our supermarkets, energy used in getting to the supermarket, waster $ in our spending, the energy used by our refrigerators and freezers (for those products stored in the fridge/freezer), the human energy to throw it out and then the ultimate waste of it going to landfill (some still wrapped in plastic no doubt) and the energy it takes to pick it up from the kerb, truck it to our transfer stations and then to Kate Valley where it sits. Or hopefully, some it is going in the green bin or being composted.

Not really an efficient use of our resources.

It is interesting to read that in Britain they are reviewing their labelling standards to improve consumer education on when the food is good till. This is worth doing here (along with carbon information in its manufacturing/production and distribution).

NZ Herald: Study, $750 million wasted on food by Martin Johnston and Isaac Davison

Kim Hill also interviewed the Australian economist, Richard Denniss, quoted in the NZ Herald article on her show on Saturday morning (Radion New Zealand). Mr Denniss discusses the survey that was conducted and what we can do to reduce that waste (and other wasted items such as “things” and “stuff” that we think we need and never use). Hmm.. again it seems to be coming back to reducing our consumption to reduce our impact on the environment and reduce our carbon emissions.

Download the mp3 podcast of that interview.

Flash Dunny Video from NZ Herald

The mornings are getting cooler and the leaves are turning and every day a little bit more sad news on the state of our city comes through. It is really starting to hit home that it is going to take years to recover from the earthquake.

But, on a positive note there are still a lot of people doing good things in the world and here are our favourite and interesting links from the past week:

• NZ Herald video of the collaboration between architect Russell Devlin and H2Flow to make comfortable and environmentally friendly composting toilets for those without loos in Christchurch, out of old recycling crates. Watch the video.
• Pepsi is developing a bottle made entirely of plant materials. More here from NZ Herald.
• A great infographic from Good Magazine (USA) on waste in space.
• The Ministry for the Environment has released some guidelines on the safe disposal of Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) here.
• Ideas on how to kick the paper habit from Re-Nest and how not to use plastic bags as rubbish bags.
• The winners photos from the 2011 Prix Pictet photo competition – Mitch Epstein on American Power (via the Guardian).
• Great photos on Junk Culture from artist Todd McLellan’s Dissassembly project.

Have a great waste free weekend.

Kate Valley Landfill (SIFT photo)

Here are some interesting tid bits we have found in the past week:

• Ministry for the Environment is funding a project to make recycled plastic into road cones.
• A nice article from ReNest on “why sustainability is boring and consuming less is not the answer“.
• Awesome video on the Good USA site on climate change from the next generation.
• Have you checked out Unpackit’s Facebook page – you can see what people are submitting as the best and worst packaging in NZ.
• New movie coming our way (soonish) called Carbon Nation.
• Could you go plastic free for a month? That’s the challenge over on the Huffington Post.
• Hot Topic discusses a new 100% Renewable Energy Report from WWF.
• Rugs made from recycled plastic straws.
• Great video showing how we are all connected – from the WWF.
• And another great video on why we need to halt CO2 emissions now (via Hot Topic).

Have a great waste free weekend.

Sail Christmas Stockings via ReNest

Here are our favourites for this Friday. Happy reading.

All things Christmas:
o    Some words to keep you environmentally friendly where possible this Christmas from Zen Habits
o    Eco-friendly Christmas stockings.
o    Inspirational ideas on how to create recycled gift bows and wreaths

National:
o    Something to know about if you’re planning a trip to the local landfill!
o    Exciting prospects for use of New Zealand landfill gas emissions
o    Engaging consumers on sustainability, proving difficult for businesses from Celsias

International:
o    2.6 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation. Some innovative MIT students have designed a programme which, if successful, will process sanitary waste in the slums of Kenya into energy! Follow their journey
o   The piling of rubbish in Naples.

Have a great waste free weekend.

Source: Flickr promqu33n photostream

Phew! What a week! Project meetings, strategic planning, new enquiries…All go! But as always we still kept a look out for the waste and sustainability links that could be interesting for our blog readers. Here are this week’s Friday Favourites:

• I watched the No Impact Man movie this week, finally and it was excellent. Inspired me to do a lot more no impact living especially when it comes to waste. You can read Colin Beavan (No Impact Man)’s blog here or get inspired and take action here and watch a clip from the movie here.
• 21 Councils in New South Wales, Australia have formed an alliance to halve the amount of waste going to the Albury Waste Management Centre in Southern NSW as they are running out of room. More here.
• Latest tonnage statistics from the MfE on waste to landfill here.
• Have you heard of the Pacific Gyre and all of the plastic waste circulating around it – Beth from Fake Plastic Fish blogs about why we can’t clean it up here.
• Celsius.co.nz posted a really informative video on what happens when BP spills….coffee!
• Want to know what is happening in New Zealand’s energy sector for the past quarter (and the carbon emissions associated with that)? Check out the lastest NZ Energy Quarterly from the MED.
• How to make a house out of an aeroplane here from Re-Nest.
• Another great find from Re-Nest - Reclaimed and upcycled Apple Gadget chargers – love the typewriter.
• National Geographic’s Human Footprint movie – a look at consuming from birth to death and how much we consume. Info here and short clip here.

And if you haven’t already checked it out visit Waveney Warth and Matthew Luxon’s new Rubbish Free website for some great tips and resources.

Have a lovely Waste Free Weekend (WFW)!