Ngā Kaitiaki o te Taiao

Plastic is an amazing material and we need to treat it that way. It doesn’t break down in landfill, so use each plastic item as much as you can. A stainless steel bottle may be great, but it takes about the same energy to make one as it does to make 500 plastic bottles, so keep using that plastic bottle until you truly can’t use it any further. Look at your single-use plastics: can you reuse them, or swap them for a reusable option? Plastic Free July is a good place to find ideas.

When I’m shopping

• Take your own bags to the supermarket, and don’t buy new ones each time. Take smaller bags for produce and bulk-bin purchases too.
• Do you really need another plastic water bottle? Palmerston North has great tap water.
• Look for equivalents with less packaging, and avoid plastic-packed vegetables where you can.
• Buy in bulk: take your own bags and containers to bulk-bin shops for baking ingredients, grains, nuts, and washing powders and liquids.
• Take your own containers to the deli counter.
• Keep using plastic bags until they’re worn out, and look out for soft-plastics recycling.

Around the house

• Replace gladwrap with reusable ziplock bags, waxed paper, lidded containers, beeswax wraps or a damp tea towel.
• Dust off the bread maker and make your own bread to avoid bread bags.
• Swap plastic toothbrushes, dish brushes, dishcloths and dental floss for compostable ones.
• Choose natural fabrics (cotton, wool) over oil-based synthetics like nylon and polyester.
• Catch microplastics from synthetic washing with a microfibre wash bag (e.g. a Guppyfriend).
• Buy shampoo, conditioner and skincare in solid bars instead of plastic bottles.
• Choose wool carpets over nylon: they may cost more up front but last longer and break down more easily.
• Consider reusable sanitary items: there’s a wide range of reusable pads and cups.

Out & about

• Say no to straws, or bring your own. Ask your favourite café whether they’d consider paper or stainless steel ones.
• Carry a reusable cup for takeaway drinks. If you tend to forget it, keep a spare at your regular coffee spot, or sit and enjoy your drink in rather than racing off.

In the garden

• Buy stones, mulch and potting mix in bulk or reusable bags rather than plastic sacks.
• Look for nurseries that sell seedlings in newspaper instead of plastic.
• Take your plastics back: some garden centres accept their own pots for reuse.

• Composting is one of the best things you can do. It feeds the soil, means less methane is released, locks in carbon, and leaves you with less rubbish (that smells less, too).
• Take green waste to the Awapuni Resource Recovery Park: much cheaper than the dump or a bin.
• The Ferguson Street recycling centre accepts batteries free of charge, plus a range of electronic items (some free, some for a small charge). See the PNCC e-waste page for what’s accepted and the fees.
• Donate clean chocolate wrappers and other interesting bits and pieces to a local kindergarten or craft group.
• Timber you no longer need (treated or untreated) can be donated for a koha to the timber recycling depot off Maxwells Line.
• Take metal recycling that can’t go in your council bin to a scrap-metal yard: they may even pay you for it.
• Buy a battery charger and rechargeable batteries for around the house.
• Donate good-condition items to charity shops rather than throwing them out.
• Paint you no longer need can be dropped off at Resene shops (a small charge may apply).
• The Red Cross Curtain Bank at 245 Main Street takes clean, good-condition curtains you no longer need and passes them on to help keep local families’ homes warm (open Wednesday and Friday, 10am to 2pm).
• Recycle any brand of dental product in the marked box in the church foyer.

• Try growing your own vegetables, fruit or herbs. Start small: a pot of basil on the windowsill or some lettuce by the back door.
• Plant things that attract bees and other pollinators. Garden centres can suggest good options.
• If you use sprays, choose less eco-toxic ones or make your own.
• Put in a rainwater tank. It reduces your water use, helps during water restrictions, is thought to be better for plants than treated water, and with the right filter can be a potable water source in an emergency.
• Green-crop your garden in winter to replenish the soil.
• If you have excess produce, share it. Just Zilch will even send volunteers to help harvest surplus from your fruit trees or garden (keep some for yourself or donate the lot), or you can drop produce (even silverbeet) at their Free Store, 248 Featherston Street, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm.

• How do you travel? Can you walk or bike even part of the way? Consider car-pooling or public transport.
• Travel less, and combine trips.
• Use your clothes drier less.
• Plant a tree, or ten.
• Offset the carbon from your driving, flying or business.
• Think about where your food comes from: local and seasonal food means fewer food miles. Eating less meat and dairy helps, and reduced spray use is better for the earth and for the people who work with it.
• Start a compost or worm farm.
• Avoid fast fashion. Buy less, and buy quality that lasts.
• If you have a wood burner, could you fit a wetback to heat your water?
• Consider solar panels or an e-bike.
• When it’s time to replace your car, choose a smaller one, or better still a hybrid or electric.
• If you’re flying, airlines often let you offset your carbon as part of booking, for not much cost.

• Watch out for palm oil. Some is produced sustainably, but a lot isn’t and drives the clearing of rainforests. It hides under many names, so get good at reading labels, or use a palm-oil checker app.
• Use more environmentally friendly cleaners, or make your own and keep them in a reusable bottle. A simple all-purpose cleaner: 1 tablespoon baking soda and 2 tablespoons white vinegar, topped up to 500 ml with water, plus a couple of drops of essential oil if you like.
• The Palmerston North City Council website has helpful guides on what goes where and rubbish and recycling facilities.

• Do I really need a new TV, phone, fridge, tablet or car? And what will happen to the old one?
• Try buying second-hand clothes and gifts instead of new.
• Make your own gift cards and wrapping paper, or reuse what you’ve been given.
• Aim for at least one meat-free day a week. Producing meat and dairy takes a lot of resource, especially water. Embrace lentils: they’re delicious, cheap and good for you.