Economate

Environmental Services - Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

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Economate Details

Economate is a fresh, new initiative and NFP that facilitates the diversion of construction waste to education institutes and community organisation projects.Established in 2016 by Katy and Nick Cottrell it aims to utilise the inherent value in waste through art and technology. Our story began when Katy, a technology teacher noticed the irony in buying raw timber from tight school budgets for students to use in NCEA sustainability projects. On contacting local construction companies she found they were throwing away perfectly good preconsumer waste. This led to a relationship between Onslow college and local companies Ladd Joinery and Friday Homes. Less than two years on and our Economates include providers of plastic, timber, melamine coated MDF and users include Predator Free Wellington, Zealandia and Onslow college. Outcomes using diverted waste have included chairs, tables, shelving units, side units, animal tracking boxes, Kaka nest boxes, weta 'hotels', artwork. Our vision is a Wellington where all preconsumer waste doesn't go to landfill instead going to good causes as part of a circular economy. The scheme offers crucial sustainability CSR for businesses while also saving funds and reducing landfill. Everyone wins when they become Economates.Success is measured by:- Two businesses have saved $1500 in waste disposal- One school has reduced their material purchases by over $2000- 10 tons of waste has been saved from landfill- Over 50m3 of waste timber has been diverted from landfill to be reused- Two not-for-profits have saved hundreds of dollars on timber suppliesEconomate has featured at:-Falling Walls Lab, NZ Royal Society Wellingotn 2018-Pacific Climate Change conference, Wellington 2018-United Nations Sustainability Goals conference 2018- Winner of People's Choice Award Park(ing) Day Wellington 2018- Winner of Akina Foundation prize at 2017 Wellington Climathon-NIDA, Sydney, Australia 2017-EnviroSchools event 2017