Iconic Kiwi charity Keep New Zealand Beautiful is encouraging Kiwis to roll up there sleeves and get involved with its annual Clean Up Week.
New Zealand’s largest movement against litter, will take place from 17-23 September 2022, with registrations open now.
This annual community initiative focuses New Zealanders’ attention on just how much litter is out there, with volunteers last year joining together to help remove approximately 300 tonnes of litter across the motu, across an area equivalent to 2,600 rugby fields.
But you needn’t wait until September to get started here are some top tips to clean up in your community:
- Join a global movement against litter and register for Clean Up Week (17-23 September) on the Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB) website.
- Find a suitable and safe location in your community to clean up. Your council might be able to point you in the direction of any litter hot spots.
- Your Clean Up Week event can be a private event with friends, family or collegues; or public allowing other local volunteers to join in.
- If you want others to join in, get the word out and publicise your event. Public events will be loaded to the Keep New Zealand Beautiful website calendar allowing others to RSVP and join you.
- Organise your crew:
a. Community clean ups are a great ‘feel good’ social activity for friends, businesses, schools and community groups.
b. Organise how you’ll dispose of the litter you collect in advance. Take advantage of FREE waste disposal at selected waste transfer stations, thanks to Waste Management, EnviroWaste and some local councils up until 15 October.
c. Have a plan of how you will separate out items that can be recycled. It is best to avoid sending as much littered waste to landfill as possible. You can contact you local council for advice about recycling in your area.
d. Create your own reusable and sustainable clean up kits for your event. Gloves, tongs, buckets, sanitiser, bug spray, sunscreen, snacks and a first aid kit are all essential to have on the day. Schools, youth groups and ECEs can all request FREE clean up kits (gloves and reusable bags) when registering for Clean Up Week. Otherwise, you can purchase supplies from Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s online shop. - Make sure you have all the necessary health and safety measures in place:
a. Ensure you and your group wash and sanitise your hands before and after clean up.
b. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing and be sun smart with a hat and water bottle to stay hydrated!
c. Have a separate container available to collect broken glass or other sharp object. If you have children as part of your crew, make sure they know what items to ask for help with.
d. Make sure everyone who is going to be helping at your event is registered.
7. If you’d like to get involved but not quite up to organising your own event, then don’t worry. You can join all the other public Clean Up Events in your area here.
8. Most importantly, have fun!
