The successful projects will result in 44 new recycling and waste bin combinations being installed at hospitals, secondary schools and shopping areas. The recycling bins will promote the Government’s Love NZ brand to help drive national consistency.

Lyn Mayes, Manager of the Public Place Recycling Scheme says that applications were assessed against a range of criteria: “Our aim is to work with industry, local government and community groups to increase the availability of recycling bins in communities that do not currently have recycling facilities, tourist locations, venues where a lot of people consume snack food and beverages; and around our beaches and waterways.

“We support programmes which focus on family and children, are open to large numbers of the public and promote recycling at sporting and cultural initiatives. The projects funded through the scheme will over time significantly increase recycling and we hope will have a corresponding impact on reducing litter.”

The projects include:
• New recycling facilities in the cafés and public place areas at Auckland DHB and Middlemore Hospital;
• Support for a National Schools Project run by EERST which will trial recycling at 5 selected secondary schools around the country;
• Introduction of recycling facilities at Southmall in Manurewa which receives 4 million visits per annum;
• A pilot public place recycling initiative in Levin working with Horowhenua District Council; and
• Funding for Tauranga City Council to support recycling at the AIMS middle school sports tournament in September which sees 14000 people attending from around 200 schools in 18 sporting disciplines.

Marty Hoffart Chair of EERST Trust says: “Thanks to financial assistance from the Public Place Recycling Scheme, our not for profit organisation, EERST has been able to provide several high schools around the country with permanent recycling bins for beverage containers. This is going to make a real difference for these schools, because the bins will become a permanent fixture within the school grounds. This project would never have gone ahead without the grant.”

Companies funding the scheme include brand owners such as Bell Tea, Coca Cola Amatil, DB, Frucor, Lion, Mars Confectionery and Pernod Ricard Winemakers; retailers Countdown and The Warehouse; Quick Service Sector brands Burgerking, KFC, Starbucks, Carls Junior, Pizza Hut and BP’s Wild Bean Cafe; and those involved in manufacturing, distributing or recycling packaging e.g. Biopak, Ecoware, ExpressPak, Huhtamaki, Orora Beverage Cans, Tetra Pak, Smart Environmental, TPI Waste Management and Packaging House.

The latest funding round is now underway closing 11th August and successful applicants will be notified in September. Organisations seeking funding for capital expenditure projects can do so at the GPF website.