Hamilton City Sustainable Living Info

Access the Learning Guides

Hamilton City has joined the Trust in 2020. Relevant links to their website are under the topic headings below.

Go Eco Waikato Environment Centre is an independent charitable trust based in Hamilton with a vision of healthy environments supported by thriving communities. It provides education, collaborates with and supports environment groups and projects, provides inspiration for living lighter and advocates on behalf of the environment.

Go Eco is at 188 Commerce Street, Frankton, Hamilton,   07 839 4452  ( tania@goeco.org.nz )  Visit their FB page for details about events, including Living Lightly course and Permaculture Design Certificate training.

Growing your own food

Community Gardens:   Waikato Community Gardens Network: contact anna@goeco.org.nz 

Grandview Community Garden 

The Fairfield Project.

OFNZ-Waikato  (organic certification and learning group)

 Green Footprint - sustainable garden design, bush & gully restoration.

Garden food growing learning guide is available free at this Future Living Skills website.

Food

Waikato Food Basket - showcasing the abundance of Waikato Region's distinctive foods!

Hamilton Farmers Market. Sundays at Claudelands Showgrounds. 

Imported Fair Trade food items - try Trade Aid, 4/19 Worley Place, Hamilton.

Conscious Consumers - ethical and sustainable choices at cafes and restaurants.

Food choices learning guide is available free at this Future Living Skills website.

Minimising Waste

Hamilton City Council - kerbside collection services, waste minimisation.

Find out more about Hamilton City Council’s new rubbish and recycling services at https://fightthelandfill.co.nz/

From 31 August 2020, Habitat for Humanity will be operating a reuse shop from Lincoln Street Transfer Station.

E-waste recycling (TVs, computers, phones, small kitchen & battery appliances, etc), via South Waikato Achievement Trust, Tokoroa. Local drop off point at Go Eco, 188 Commerce Street, Frankton.  Or arrange a pick up ($15)

The Repair Coop. Monthly voluntary project helps you fix valued things. 

Kaivolution - collects surplus edible food and redistributes it to community organisations.

Soft plastics can be recycled at some Countdown and Warehoues stores - see locations link.

The Curtain Bank is open at GoEco, 188 Commerce Street, on the third Wednesday of the month between February and November each year. Recycle old curtains by taking to the 'curtain bank' at Go Eco from where they will be offered to new households. 

Waste minimisation learning guide is available free at this Future Living Skills website.

Be smart with water and not waste it

Water saving tips

Report a water pipe leak

Water use restrictions

Educational resources on water

Water treatment - videos

 Water learning guide is available free at this Future Living Skills website.

Getting around Hamilton

Bus services: see BusIt journey planner.

InterCity Buses.  Other services in the Waikato. 

Leading The Charge - users and promoters of electric vehicles in NZ. 

Living Streets Aotearoa - advocacy for walkers and for wheels on pavements. Judy McDonald:  hamilton@livingstreets.org.nz 

ChainLink - cycle repairs for free! Western Community Centre. Last Saturday in the month, 10-11.30am.

Travel choices learning guide is available free at this Future Living Skills website.

Warm and Dry Homes

Home performance analysis and Home Fit healthy home assessment is available. Go Eco offers support with practical advice to lower your energy bills, improve indoor air quality and protect health all year, whether you are a landlord, owner-occupier or tenant.

For information about energy efficiency in your home, visit the energy page at Hamilton City website and also download the energy learning guide free at this website

If you are building a new home, renovating or looking for options to improve the comfort, heath and performance of your existing home, see useful information at EcoDesign Advisor website.

Read about insulation at Smart Energy Solutions, or Green Star Energy Solutions.

Eco-design learning guide is available free at this Future Living Skills website.

Community Resilience

Get Ready Get Thru - city and regional information.

Neighbourhood support, Hamilton.

Waikato Timebank - share your skills and use others' skills in an exchange scheme.

Volunteering Waikato.

Community resilience learning guide is available free at this Future Living Skills website.

Nature in the city (Biodiversity)

Hamilton City Council’s Community Planting Programme works with community groups and residents to improve our natural habitats and increase the city’s biodiversity for future generations to enjoy. Click here to see what events are coming up.

Hamilton is one of the only cities in New Zealand to still support a resident population of long-tailed bats. Hamilton City Council partners with Waikato Regional Council to monitor populations of long tailed bats. 

Hamilton City Council supports gully restoration in Hamilton through a range of initiatives, including educational material such as the Gully Restoration Guide, which offers great advice to improve your home property with native plants to encourage native wildlife.

For more information about biodiversity in Hamilton, visit this link.