• Event Type: Community
• Description: A weekly community market selling fresh produce, second-hand clothing, and bric-a-brac
• Size: Well-established market running since 1994
• Location: Wesley Community Centre, Mt Roskill, Auckland
• Waste Separation: Compostables, Recycling, Landfill, and Food Waste

How we did:

1 Reduce incoming waste

While there were already some good things happening at the market to reduce waste, for example, a local pig farmer took food scraps and some cardboard was recycled, the equivalent of four large wheelie bins was still being sent to landfill every week. EcoMatters started working with the market organisers to find more ways to reduce waste.

Plastic bags were a big issue, ending up in the nearby stream. To prepare for the ban on plastic shopping bags that came into effect in July 2019, the EcoMatters team focused on solutions for both stall holders and shoppers.

These included introducing a bag library, encouraging shoppers to bring their own reusable bags, and speaking with each stallholder around the importance of the ban and how they could encourage customers to use alternatives.

2 Choose the right bin

Waste was separated at time of disposal by setting up different collection points for food waste, recyclable, compostables, and landfill. A waste coordinator was on-site and able to check the bins throughout the day, and direct people as necessary. This meant more waste was recycled, with less sent to landfill. Some of the food waste still went to a local farmer for stock, and the rest was composted at EcoMatters or fed to local chickens.

3 Let people know

In 2018, EcoMatters set up a ‘talk tent’ where shoppers could learn more about reducing waste. Along with guest speakers presenting with us, there was always something new and different to learn about.

Shoppers were encouraged to bring their own reusable bags, and a bag library was set up for people to borrow reusable bags from. Every stallholder was educated about the importance of supporting the ban and how they could help encourage customers to use alternatives.

4 Capture feedback

EcoMatters worked closely with the Puketāpapa Local Board, to help shift the culture of the market to become zero waste focused.

In just three years, EcoMatters helped stallholders divert 1,500 tonnes of food waste from landfill (that’s equal to about 12 blue whales) and 170kg of recyclable items (that’s the weight of two kangaroos).

Having a waste coordinator at every market meant if people were confused about which bin to put waste into, there was someone there to offer guidance.

Key Messages:

• Make waste disposal as easy as possible for people by providing easily identifiable collection points for each type of waste.
• Educating stallholders about using alternatives to plastic bags helped in turn to reach market customers.
• By offering better solutions to plastic bags for both stallholders and shoppers, people were more likely to use reusable bags or a good alternative.

Key Learnings:

• People are willing to dispose of waste in the right way if it is made easier for them
• Having someone at the talk tent meant there was always someone to help, answer questions, and educate.
• In three years 1,500 tonnes of food waste and 170kg of recyclable items didn’t go into landfill!