A circular economy is about much more than recycling. It's about reducing waste in the first place and making the most of the resources we already have.
Imagine a system where products and materials stay in use for as long as possible through sharing, repairing, reusing, repurposing and recycling. Instead of throwing things away, we keep valuable materials in circulation and reduce the need to take new resources from the environment.
The circular economy is built on three key principles: designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating nature.
The waste hierarchy shows the best ways to reduce waste, starting with refusing and reducing what we consume, then reusing, repairing and recycling. Below, you'll find local businesses, organisations and practical ideas to help you live more circularly in Manawatū.
Avoid waste
Reduce, rethink, redesign
Plastic free living
- Zero plastic Resources - Plastic Free July
- Grocery shopping zero waste in the Manawatū
- Buy second hand when possible
- Take aways - bring your own containers, eat at the restaurant or opt for places like that use cardboard containers.
- Use natural materials that are infinitely recyclable, like glass and metal, or compostable, like cotton, wool, and wood.
- DIY your own 'paper towels' with fabric on a roll
- Opt for reusable over single use products like diva cups, washable nappies, and wipes
- Make food from scratch like bread, soup and cake to avoid plastic packaging, use the grocery shopping guide to get package free items
Avoid food waste
- Buy wonkey vegetables - Wonky box, Misfit garden
- Donate food - find the list of Sharing Shelves (Pātaka Kai)
- Crop swaps - find the next event
- Make the most of what's in your kitchen - Supercook tool
- Learn to preserve your food - Supergrans Manawatū
Get your business to do a waste audit with Precycle
Reduce waste
Reuse, repair, repurpose
Borrow
- Borrow from freinds and family
- Rent or hire items for one off use, such as furniture and decorations for events, or dresses, suits, and costumes that will only be worn once.
- Book libraries
- Seed libraries
- Gardening tool Library Environment Network Manawatū
- Toy library
- Levin - 37 Hinemoa Street, Levin 5510
- Dannevirke - in front of the AMP Wai Splash Indoor Pool Complex, 35 York Street, Dannevirke 4930
- Bulls - 198 Bridge Street, Bulls 4818
- Palmerston North - 200 Church Street, West End, Palmerston North 4412
Repair
- Repair cafes in the Manawatu - monthly events where you can take your things to get repaired (clothes, jewelry, small furniture, toys, etc)
- Computure repairs at Inhouse Computures
- Furniture restoration - Kilmister Furniture Restoration
- Fix or buy second hand bike - Green Bikes
- Shoe repairs
- Fix it yourself - Youtube has lots of great DIY videos
Upcycle
- Join a craft club like Upcycle Club 1 or Rangiwahia Environmental Arts (REACT)
Recyle waste
Recycle, compost
Recycling
- Laptop recycling - RAD (recycle a devise)
- Clothes - Textile rescue
- Push bikes - Green bikes
- Metal - Metal co
- Council Recycling
- Windows, doors, cladding, wood, etc
- Terracycle drop off points
- Feilding - Feilding repair cafe and Manawatū district council
- Foxton - Wildlife Foxton Trust
Composting
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