Posts Tagged ‘SIFT’

Comspec’s New Website

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 by Admin

Comspec LogoComspec have a flash new website with a great video on the opening of the plant. You can read more about how the Sustainable Initiatives Fund helped Comspec here with finanical assitance in the form of a loan or check out their video here.

SIFT’s Friday Favourites

Friday, July 16th, 2010 by Admin
Bicycles for Recycling at Resource Recycling (ChCh)

Bicycles for Recycling at Resource Recycling (ChCh)

These weeks are flying by – soon we will be talking about how to have a waste free Christmas and summer holiday and feeling the heat rather than the cold! But, in the meantime here are some cheery mid-Winter links for your Friday.

  • How to make your own magazine files – genius from Re-Nest.
  • A treehugger article by Fred Pearce on the growing problem of consumption not population here.
  • A possible solution to textiles waste from NYC here.
  • Ideas for recycling old linen here.
  • Green Investment Bank proposed for the UK reported by the Guardian here.
  • New Waste Facilities Survey from the MfE here.

Have a Waste Free Weekend.

Friday Favourites

Friday, July 9th, 2010 by Admin
levis-denim-insulation-3

Levis Denim Insulation Source: Cool Hunting

Here is the round up of favourite/interesting links we have found this week:

Have a lovely waste free weekend.

Friday Favourites

Friday, July 2nd, 2010 by Admin
Source: Flickr promqu33n photostream

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)!

Friday Favourites

Friday, June 25th, 2010 by Admin

Source: Twig & Thistle Sárah Goldschadt Garden Flags

Source: Twig & Thistle Sárah Goldschadt Garden Flags Reusing egg cartons

SIFT has had a big week this week. I attended the Philanthropy NZ Regional Funders Forum on Tuesday and learnt about how to create a learning organisation from Fiona Ellis, who is the ex-Director of the Northern Rock Foundation in the UK, and what it means to be a social lender from Laura Benedict, a social lending practioner from the US. Laura is in New Zealand at the moment to write a paper on social lending in New Zealand as part of the Ian Axford (New Zealand) Public Policy Fellowship and is the head of the commercial lending department of Self Help, the US’s largest non-profit community development financial institution. Lots of great and useful information from both speakers that I am still digesting.

And yesterday we had our yearly SIFT Strategic Planning Afternoon. We reviewed why we are here, what we want SIFT to be and do, the values, vision, mission and critical outcomes for the next year. One of those is to continue to grow SIFT as a learning organisation specifically to find waste minimisation/avoidance solutions.

We are ready for a New Year full of new projects and new ways of operating.

But for today here are the favourite links from around the world and locally:

Have a great waste free weekend.

Practical Action – Visit the Super Shed or your local ReSell Shed

Thursday, June 17th, 2010 by Admin

It seems to be a bit of a mantra but to reduce your waste you need to reduce your consumption. And then if do need to buy something see if you can get it vintage or second hand. Today we visited the Super Shed in Pages Rd (Christchurch) to see what they had to offer (and also to do a bit of vintage foraging). If you can’t make it to Christchurch see if your local District Council or community group runs a Re-Sell shed (or check out TradeMe and other second hand stores for bargains).

The Super Shed is super full of a mix of homewares, furniture, electronics, old suitcases, crockery, cutlery, books, plastic (lots of plastic), vacuum hoses and heads, bags, beds, bed heads, tools, garden ware (lots of great outside seating for the summer), personal entertainment and lighting. You do really have to pick through  it to find the gems. I picked up a retro/industrial light shade (very utilitarian) for only $5 and I know others have picked up things like fake gilded mirrors, egg cups, glass jars, frames (that were repainted) and even placemats (the Super Shed has three bins just for placemats). Outside you can also find toilets, sinks, umbrellas and lots of plastic pots for gardening. As we were leaving the next customer was buying an old style push mower that only had a bit of rust on it and someone else had a bag of Retro Christmas decorations.

If you are willing to pick through some of the dross there are definitely bargains to be had. With some creativity you can even update old furniture just with new paint and handles. Worth a look before you buy new. And to think that all that is contained within the Super Shed was “thrown out” by someone. The items are pulled out of the waste to landfill stream and sold on to people in the community for a new life. We wonder where people thought their goods would go or if they even thought about it!

You can read more about the Super Shed here.

Here are a few photos from the visit:

IMG_8901

IMG_8902

IMG_8903

IMG_8904

IMG_8905

IMG_8906

IMG_8907

IMG_8908

Did you miss out on funding from the WMF?

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 by Admin
Source: Flickr speckled_beckle's photostream

Source: Flickr speckled_beckle's photostream

Yesterday, most of the 164 applications for funding for waste project(s) from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund would have received a letter telling them their application has been turned down. Congratulations to the 29 who did make it through to the next stage – we are interested to see what these projects are. If this was you and your project is based in Canterbury have you thought about approaching the Sustainable Initiatives Fund for assistance?

The purpose of the Waste Minimisation Fund is not too dissimilar to the objectives of the Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust. The WMF was developed to boost New Zealand’s performance in waste minimisation through educational, promotional, technological or infrastructure projects. The objectives of the Sustainable Initiatitives Fund Trust are about reducing or avoiding waste that goes specifically to Canterbury’s landfills through new technology/process or recovering new waste streams or by developing new products or technologies out of recovered materials. Other sub-objectives include creating useful sustainable educational applications from the products or technologies that are developed and/or creating sustainable energy products out of waste and/or creating sustainable job opportunties and contributing positively to Canterbury’s economy. The Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust is apart of a new generation of social lenders with the primary motivation of reducing negative environmental impacts – decreasing waste to landfill.

We have a number of projects on the go at the moment that are a mix of grants, loans and equity investments and cover a range of waste streams and issues. You can check out more of our past projects here.

We had a board meeting yesterday and again the board reiterated that projects need to show their reduction in environmental impact first and foremost. We are super keen to see the waste reduction numbers for the waste stream your project deals with.

If you have an idea that requires financial assistance we may be able to help. Call myself (Olivia Day, General Manager) to discuss if you are eligible and if we can help. Our number is 03 3655655.

Friday favourites

Friday, June 11th, 2010 by Admin

We visited the CCC2 Materials Recovery Facility on Tuesday - here's a sneek peek.

We visited the CCC2 Materials Recovery Facility on Tuesday - here's a sneek peek. More to come.

Here is this week’s round up of what of the waste, sustainability goodies we have come across:

Hope you have a low impact weekend!

Green Collar Job Post – Maxine Woodhouse

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 by Admin

Waitaki Resource Co-ordinator Maxine Woodhouse

Waitaki Resource Co-ordinator Maxine Woodhouse

Maxine Woodhouse, Waitaki Resource Exchange’s Co-ordinator is our Green Collar Job interviewee this week. We met Maxine at the WasteMinz workshops in April and although Waitaki is just outside of the Canterbury region we still thought what she does everyday would be of interest to our blog readers. Three days a week Maxine works with businesses, not-for-profits and schools looking at waste as a resource with the aim to divert that waste from their local landfill and to show  people how to utilise waste as a resource within the community.  She has also assisted in the implementation of recycling in local workplaces. Maxine says “Our goal is to create lasting networks between those with excess resources & those seeking them, thus extending the life of usable materials & keeping them out of the landfill”.

When not focussed on waste Maxine is either in her garden or volunteering in other initiatives in the community such as local cycle groups and the Alternative Transport project which is run in conjunction with Sport Waitaki, the Rural PHO (Primary Health Organisation) and the local Transition Town movement. Maxine also writes a fortnightly column in the local Waitaki paper which is read by people from all walks of life in the community.

1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
There are a number of things: I recycle all my household items, choose wisely when shopping, grow my own Fruit and Veges, I walk to work, ride my bike or car pool to visit business owners and I volunteer for the Transition Town movement to help educate the community on low impact activities to help our environment & promote alternative means of transport for people to get to school, work and around the community.

2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
I work from home. So this means I just have to walk up the back of my house to my office. Sometime I choose to jog or ride my bike. ha-ha

3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
There are a number of environmental issues that I think NZ is going to face in the future & some that are already being shown.
I think we need to be farming smarter (inc Beef, sheep, cows, crops etc) and changing our habits, in order to protect our water ways and soils here in NZ, Genetic Engineering and food labelling.
The amount of people that drive cars.
How we, as consumers, are consuming. We are creating problems that are making our rubbish problems bigger. We need to start taking ownership of our consumer choices, when it comes to quality and the end of line, for our products.

4. What makes you smile?
Interacting with community and seeing people being positive and happy.

5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
People making excuses for their behaviour and not having a consequence for their actions!

6. What is your favorite colour and why?
Ummm, blue at the moment. Representing Water in the world and how precious this is for our survival.

7. Do you have a favorite place in the world? Describe why?
Oamaru of course. It’s centrally located, over looks the ocean, has a great community of supportive people, is the end place for the new cycle way in NZ, great surfing and has big things on the way for the future!

8. What’s your connection to SIFT?
I met the Olivia and Chris [Pickrill, Chairman] at the Waste Minz conference in April and heard all about the great initiatives that they are doing.

9. Do you remember your favorite teacher and why they were your favorite?

Would have to be when I did my Outdoor Education course in Cairns (OZ), my teacher Amanda Smith. She was a great female role model and inspired me to pursuer my career as an Outdoor educator in Victoria, which I did for almost 3 years.

10. What do you want to leave behind?
A world full of people who care and take responsibility for their actions, as human beings and understand that we can’t just keep taking and nothing is going to happen.

11. What do you think the future will bring?
This is the year for change. So hopefully people will make wiser consuming choices, start to recycle better and write more letters to companies to let them know what they think about products and the packaging used.

12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
I don’t have anyone that comes to mind, but in general, people who take risks and give things they may never had done before a good go!

13. What is happening outside your window right now?

It’s really raining. We have flooding and no school today.

14. What is your favorite breakfast?
Organic Clearwater Yoghurt from Peel Forest, with fresh organic strawberries.

15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
“Don’t try to convince people to change the way they think. Just focus on how you can work with the positive solutions and the positives examples…” David Holmgren
I love this peace of advice and this is my motto for this year..(It’s working too)

Green Collar Job Q&A – Darren Patterson

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 by Admin

Darren Patterson

Darren Patterson

This week’s Green Collar Job Q&A is with Darren Patterson. SIFT caught up with Darren at last month’s WasteMinz Workshops and thought he would be great Green Collar Job Q&A candidate as he spends his days helping others to reduce their impact on the environment and has a wealth of experience in waste and environmental sustainability.  Based in Christchurch Darren is a consultant specialising in helping businesses to operate sustainably. Darren aims to work with each client to seek pragmatic solutions that will work for both their business and the environment. You can see more of what he does at www.pattersonenvironmental.co.nz or his blog here. To make contact email him on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or even speak to him one on one by phoning 021 440832. You can also follow him on twitter here, or Facebook here, or LinkedIn here.

1.    What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?

I walk or ride to work, compost at home, recycle, and reuse what I can.  We have a solar hot water system and energy and water efficient appliances and monitor our energy use with a Centometer.

2.    How do you live more sustainably at work?

Providing the right advice to businesses helps them reduce their impact on the environment and their liabilities.  It can also reduce their operating costs.

3.    What do you  think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?

The biggest global environmental issue would be climate change but more locally the poor management of waste and hazardous substances impacts directly on the water we drink and the air we breath.

4.    What makes you smile?

My children.

5.    What is your biggest pet peeve?

Apathy

6.    What is your favourite colour and why?

The colour blue of the sky at sunrise and sunset.   Reminds me of my travels.

7.    Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?

To live: Christchurch – sorry to the rest of the world buts its just right for me.
To visit: Pagan in Burma (Myanmar) amazing town with over 3000 Buddhist stupors/temples.  However, it’s controlled by an oppressive regime that persecutes its people.

8.    What’s your connection to Sift?

I’ve worked with Sift during my time at Environment Canterbury.

9.    Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?

Miss Camsey:  she was the deputy head of my junior school and had a very progressive approach to teaching 10 year olds.

10. What do you want to leave behind?

Two successful sons that live in a world that’s better than the one that I entered.

11. What do you think the future will bring?

Opportunities that we don’t yet know.

12. Who is someone you really admire and why?

John Campbell; I love his enthusiasm and his willingness to ask the questions that get him to the nub of the issue.

13. What is happening outside your window right now?

Leaves are falling off the tree and a bird is hunting through them for food.

14. What is your favourite breakfast?

Pancakes

15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. – Emerson