Beef + Lamb New Zealand is supporting a six-week nationwide campaign encouraging farmers to develop waste management strategies for their farm and highlighting the recycling pathways and programmes available to them.
The Rural Waste Sorted NZ campaign aims to make waste management easier to understand and easier to put into practice with a wealth of practical tips, resources and farmer experiences on the newly launched website Rural Waste Sorted NZ
Rural Waste Sorted NZ spokesperson and Otago regional waste officer Anna Robinson says the website is designed to be useful whether farmers are just starting to think about waste management or are already taking action.
A video series on the website features farmers and industry representatives talking about the waste challenges they face and the changes they have made on their farms.
The series covers topics including why better waste management matters, common farm waste streams, working with staff and suppliers, practical ways to get started, finding the right waste pathways, and where to go for more support.
“The video series will appeal to those looking for a way to get started but who haven’t yet found the ‘how’ or the ‘what’. It also has great information and useful resources for farmers nationwide who are already working to minimise and manage waste”, says Anna.
Dairy farmer and Rural Waste Sorted NZ ambassador Trish Rankin says farmers already have a strong motivation to look after the land for future generations.
“There’s that real spirit of kaitiakitanga, so one thing I’ve noticed about farmers is that they want to ensure they get the right waste back into the right place,” says Trish.
“My vision for rural waste is that there is a solution for every waste stream that comes on farm, that it doesn’t cost farmers anything to do the right thing. If I buy something, there’s a way that I can manage the packaging that it comes in.”
Rather than focusing on one-size-fits-all solutions, Rural Waste Sorted NZ encourages farmers to start with what is practical for their own farm.
Rural Waste Sorted NZ is supported by NZ Landcare Trust, B+LNZ, Waitaki District Council, Environment Canterbury and Dunedin City Council. For more information go to Rural Waste Sorted NZ.