CouncilsTasman & Nelson

Tasman & Nelson Sustainable Living Info

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Tasman District joined Sustainable Living Education Trust in July 2016 and were joined by Nelson in January 2018.  Your two local contacts are Nichola Brydon at Tasman Council email: nichola.brydon@tasman.govt.nz and Karen Lee, Nelson City's Education and Partnerships Officer (03 5437222)

Welcome residents in Tasman District and in Nelson City!
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Community Gardens

Join with others to develop your skills to grow the best vegetables, fruit and herbs for yourself and others. Please make contact using the links below:

Gardening more sustainably – Tasman Council website,  Nelson urban food growing guide (download PDF)

Growing fuit and nuts at home - Nelson Environment Centre webpage. (with downloads)

 

Best Use of Resources

To make the best use of resources we value the resources that we already have and think about the consumer choices we make, whether these are our purchases or being given. If more of the resources we purchase and use are reusable, recyclable and support healthy social structures, we can reduce the need for unnecessary waste.

Rethink shopping: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/environment/environmental-education/sustainable-living/purchase-locally/

Great ideas and information can be found around reducing, reusing and recycling on the Nelson Environment Centre’s Waste Education Services’ website http://www.nec.org.nz/wes-services/

Find out about modern cloth nappies: The Nappy Lady http://www.thenappylady.co.nz/

 

Recycling collections

A yellow-lidded mixed recycling bin is provided to each rated residence for recycling card, paper, plastics and metals cans; a blue bin is provided for glass collection. These are collected every two weeks.   Link http://www.tasman.govt.nz/services/rubbish-recycling/kerbside-collection/ to download a Kerbside Recycling Guide pdf and the timetable.

There are public drop off recycling facilities and transfer stations at Richmond, Motueka -Mariri, Takaka, Collingwood and Murchison.

Richmond Resource Recovery Centre

By going through the kiosk, the Richmond Resource Recovery Centre will also take compact fluorescent and energy light bulbs, car batteries, small batteries, left over paint, clean fill or rubble to be recycled.

Also whiteware and car bodies can be dropped off for free if follow requirements. A charge will incur if extra removal of items is required.

Tyres can be dropped off for a small charge. The metal and sidewalls are removed so these can be then disposed of to landfill.

The public drop off area will take old oil, old gas bottles, oil filled heaters and light and heavy gauge metal to be recycled.

 

Electronic Waste is the fastest waste growing type of waste here and around the world.  They contain dangerous substances that can toxic if not handled correctly. PCs, printers, keyboards, TVs, monitors, cellphones and cameras can be dropped off to the Nelson Environment Centre for a fee. Link http://www.tasman.govt.nz/services/rubbish-recycling/electronic-waste-recycling/


Re-use shop in Richmond is closed, but items can be dropped off or bought from Cee Gees Recycling Centre on Robinson Road, Mariri, Motueka or the Nelson Re-use and Recycling Centre 6 Vivian Street, Tahunanui.  

 

Check out other reuse options:

Murchison NZ Buy Sell Exchange: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1466276640354675/

Online Garage Sale Nelson/Motueka: https://www.facebook.com/groups/327761573967143/

Takaka noticeboard: https://www.facebook.com/groups/588867111181015/

Trade Me - http://www.trademe.co.nz/

 

Greenwaste to Zero

Green garden waste can be taken to Cargill Place, off Beach Road in Richmond for a charge. Greenwaste to Zero sells this resource as fabulous compost on a 2-3 year composting cycle.

If you can not recycle or re-use it – use the transfer stations as above in Murchison, Collingwood, Takaka, Motueka (Mariri) and Richmond. All of these wasted resources go to the landfill in Eves Valley – sadly up to 100 tonnes a day!

 

Hazardous Waste http://www.tasman.govt.nz/services/rubbish-recycling/hazardous-waste/

To find out if substances and wastes from households, commercial properties and businesses or farm or rural sites are hazardous and need careful disposal, check out these options and services.

Food choices

Love Food Hate Waste

The best way to keep healthy is also good for our pockets and our environment.

Nelson's Love Food Hate Waste webpage.

Ideas for maximising your food budget and minimising waste:

http://www.tasman.govt.nz/environment/environmental-education/sustainable-living/love-food-hate-waste/

Composting, worm farm and bokashi recycling options for food scraps and peelings: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/environment/environmental-education/sustainable-living/composting-worm-farms-and-bokashi/

 Nelson Women's Centre - My Grandmothers Kitchen

Water Use and Impacts

Water efficient gardening: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/services/water-and-wastewater/water-supply/water-saving-tips/

To help reduce water or stream pollution  http://www.tasman.govt.nz/environment/environmental-education/sustainable-living/water-quality-and-use/

Recipes for environment-friendly cleaners and household products you can make yourself - from Nelson Council.


 

Community Resilience & Emergency Preparedness

Civil Defence operations are jointly shared between Nelson City and Tasman District Council. http://www.tasman.govt.nz/services/emergency-management/civil-defence/

 

Check out what you need and what you can do to be prepared for any emergencies   http://www.nelsontasmancivildefence.co.nz/getting-prepared/


Find out about what you can do for the different disasters; http://www.getthru.govt.nz/disasters  during and afterwards.

Tsunami evacuation maps are available - http://www.nelsontasmancivildefence.co.nz/tsunami-evacuation-maps/

Energy Efficiency at home

Home energy efficiency tips http://www.tasman.govt.nz/property/heating/home-energy-efficiency/

 
Solar power generation (photovoltaics) is gaining popularity here in the sunniest spot in New Zealand: do a site search on the internet for the many local companies and seek competitive quotes. Works best if you have a north-facing roof slope.

Travelling around Nelson and Tasman

All of the different transport options available in Tasman: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/transport/

 

Cars pollute the atmosphere and waterways. Each moving car releases about 74 million cubic litres of polluted air in its lifetime. Pollutants include:

  • Smoke particles
  • Carbon monoxide and dioxide
  • Nitrogen dioxide
  • Ozone
  • Tiny particles of rubber and brake lining (often includes copper) left on road surfaces.

So check out alternatives:

Public transport options: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/transport/public-transport/public-transport/

Other sustainable transport options: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/environment/environmental-education/sustainable-communities/sustainable-transport/

 Walking 

Nelson City Council walking page.   'Top of the South' walk routes map link. 

Cycling

Find maps for great cycling paths to see around the district on Tasman’s Great Taste Trail  http://www.tasman.govt.nz/transport/

 

Mountain biking tracks in Tasman: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/recreation/walking-cycling/mountain-biking-trails/

 

Cycle safety information http://www.tasman.govt.nz/transport/road-safety/cycle-safety/ and road code for cyclists

Pedestrian safety http://www.tasman.govt.nz/transport/road-safety/pedestrian-safety/

School travel planning http://www.tasman.govt.nz/transport/road-safety/school-travel-planning/

 

Extra info on Sustainability in Tasman and Nelson

Enviroschools

a facilitated Programme for schools and early childhood centres choosing a journey for their children (students and community) of becoming more sustainable. In Tasman this Programme has been supported by Tasman District Council since 2004. S Contact the Regional Coordinator and check out more about the Programme http://www.tasman.govt.nz/environment/environmental-education/education-for-sustainability/enviroschools/

Info for parents of small children on sustainability. (preschool)

Libraries

Check out the Council and Community Libraries in the Tasman District for reading material and videos which may help your efforts: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/services/libraries/community-libraries/

 Nelson Council sustainability at home webpage - for more links.

Community groups

There are many community groups which voluntarily support environmental efforts in Tasman District Council

Keep Richmond Beautiful http://www.tasman.govt.nz/tasman/community/keep-richmond-beautiful/

Keep Motueka Beautiful http://www.motuekaonline.org.nz/environment/groups/keep-motueka-beautiful.html

Keep Golden Bay Beautiful http://www.found.org.nz/directory/keep-golden-bay-beautiful-committee/

Streamcare groups: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/environment/water/rivers/stream-and-river-life/streamcare-groups/

Other community groups can be searched in the Found Directory Tasman: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/tasman/community/found-directory/


Environmental interest gatherings

TOTSEE – is the Top of the South Environmental Educators group that tries to meet once a term.

Contact Adie (Adie.Leng@tasman.govt.nz ) if you have info to share or wish to know more about TOTSEE or create a sustainability group and need support for your learning and actions using the Sustainable Living resources.

Tip: Home grown and spray free!
Learn some basics of organic gardening, for healthy food at home, in our Gardening guide.