Companies doing their bit to reduce litter

8 September 2009
Media Release

Companies doing their bit to reduce litter

Consumer goods manufacturers are doing a good job in helping to reduce the amount of rubbish on our streets, as part of the Great New Zealand Spring Clean week (4 to 11 September), said Keep New Zealand Beautiful Chief Executive, Simon Johnston.

“It’s important to recognise that large companies like New World, Coca-Cola Amatil NZ and McDonald’s have put a lot of effort into waste reduction and recycling programmes.

“They’ve made a significant investment of time and money as well as getting their people into the clean up movement and we’re grateful for that.”

Thousands of employees from large companies will be picking up litter this week.

Mr Johnston said he welcomed the comments of organisations like Grime Scene about the need to tackle waste, but this needed to be balanced with the good work that was happening.

“We welcome any initiatives that encourage people to reduce waste and recycle more and many large companies are doing this.”

New Zealand has one of the highest recycling rates in the world with 70% of plastics collected through kerbside for recycling.

Coca-Cola Amatil NZ Managing Director George Adams said his company was delighted to continue its involvement with Keep New Zealand Beautiful and this year’s Spring Clean week.

“Our kerbside recycling rates show that Kiwis do the right thing when they’re at home. We’re now helping them to be tidy kiwis when they leave home by providing recycling bins at public events and in public places,” says Mr Adams.

“We have invested time and money to make sure all our beverage containers can be recycled in New Zealand. We also support the recycling industry by using recycled resin in our plastic bottles, the only beverage company doing this and we have been doing it since 1994.”

Coca-Cola Amatil New Zealand was recognised for their environmental management programme on Friday, 4 September, winning the New Zealand Packaging Council Award.

For more on Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up Week 2009 visit: www.knzb.org.nz/knzb-clean-up-week-200/

For more information on Coca Cola Amatil New Zealand’s initiatives to reduce waste visit www.makeeverydropmatter.co.nz

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