Sustainability Week started with a skip diversion day yesterday, where students could fill seven skip bins in Dunedin’s Castle St with cardboard, glass, metal and electronic waste for recycling. One skip was also available for rubbish.
Next week’s programme includes such things as an alternative market day, a free garage sale and screening of a 3-D animated musical comedy based on the Dr Seuss book The Lorax, as well as opportunities to learn about sustainable backyards, do-it-yourself cleaning products and beeswax wraps.
The drive, called Let’s Reboot, is being led by the university’s sustainability office and several other organisations are involved.
As well as a chance to dial back on consumerism, some bargains could be had.
Staff and students can join in a pre-loved bike grab, for koha, on Wednesday.
Bikes have been gathered from the landfill and repaired by youth development Malcam Trust and Carrington College students.
Sustainability office engagement co-ordinator Jesikah Triscott said desks, bookshelves, tables and chairs would be
available.
The university’s property services division will have electrical and carpentry teams available to help students make necessary repairs.
Free clothing will be available and Stitch Kitchen will help with mending.
Ms Triscott said the week was a chance for people to get active politically too.
They could talk about the proposed southeastern marine reserve off Dunedin or, if they have ideas about how to change the university campus, start working on their pitch to a $35,000 fund.
The sustainability office and Startup Dunedin will run episode one of their impact series on Monday
and Ms Triscott encouraged involvement.
