Welcome to the
Nelson Environment Centre
w w w . n e c . o r g . n z

Home | FAQ | Recycling Centre | Waste Education Services | Links | About NEC | Volunteers Contact | email |
| print this page

Kia Ora!


The Nelson Environment Centre works proactively within the Nelson region to promote environmental awareness and facilitate environmentally sustainable initiatives.  Our email address is info@nec.org.nz

 

We also email a weekly newsletter - the Eco Events Calendar - to let you know about all the various environmental "happenings" around the region.

If you would like to subscribe (or have an event you want others to know about) email info@nec.org.nz

 

Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival

SECOND NELSON ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL 1 to 10 October 2008

Presented by the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust, Nelson Environment Centre and State Cinema 6.

At the Suter Cinema, 208 Bridge Street, Nelson

Fund raising event for the Brook Sanctuary and Nelson Environment Centre

For more information please download the full programme - Film Festival 2008


Posted by Karen (NEC) on 9/16/08; 3:46:40 PM
from the News dept.

Discuss
smallLogo: Nelson Enviroment Centre
eDay - Nelson/Tasman
eDay Logo:

Saturday 4th October from 9am until 3pm at

 ENZA International, Nayland Road, Stoke; &

 Fonterra, Takaka

Bring your car loads (trucks/vans etc. will be turned away) of household and small business computer waste for recycling. This is free to you - the cost is covered by corporate sponsorship and funding from the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Management Fund.

Local sponsors are Nelson City Council; Tasman District Council; ENZA International; Fonterra; Nelson Environment Centre; Nelmac; Fulton Hogan; Nelson Mail and BlueBerryIT. The event is being organised by Waste Education Services

Equipment accepted is: computer hardware; printers; scanners; keyboards; mice; laptops; monitors; mobile phones and toner and inkjet cartridges. The aim is to raise awareness of the toxic nature of computer waste that when landfilled can pollute the water course; and also the valuable resources that can be recycled and reused from each bit of electronic waste. Last year 415 tonnes of waste was collected nationally. We are expecting to collect about 50 tonnes of equipment from the Nelson/Tasman region.

To ensure the event is free the day will be largely run by volunteers and so we need your help.

If you would like more information please contact Karen Driver on 03 545 9176 extension 2, or karendriver@nec.org.nz

The eDay website is at http://www.eday.org.nz This contains information on what will be done with the materials collected and you can register your interest in volunteering for part of the day.


Posted by Karen (NEC) on 9/10/08; 11:09:10 AM
from the News dept.

Discuss
smallLogo: Nelson Enviroment Centre
More staff, more projects - great energy

We now have an expanded team at Nelson Environment Centre. We are intending to update our website shortly. In the meantime if you would like more information please use the contact details below.

Transition Nelson

Trevor and Kathy Houghton - more information on the project and how you can get involved at http://www.transitiontowns.org.nz/nelson. Email them on transitionnelson@nec.org.nz

Carbon Reduction Reward Scheme

Carolyn Hughes and Nick Kiddey - contact either for more information - carolynhughes@nec.org.nz or nickkiddey@nec.org.nz or 03 545 9176

Sustainability Centre Project

Ruth Copeland - is managing the project to develop a sustainability centre for Nelson. Contact Ruth at ruthcopeland@nec.org.nz or 03 545 9176

Sustainable Business Network

Kirsty Quickfall is running the Nelson SBN office from NEC. Contact Kirsty on Kirsty@sustainable.org.nz or 03 545 9176. The website for the SBN can be found at www.sustainable.org.nz


Posted by Karen (NEC) on 8/26/08; 9:31:08 AM
from the News dept.

Discuss
smallLogo: Nelson Enviroment Centre
Kiwis at the Fore-Front

adapted from Stuff http://www.stuff.co.nz/4371540a10.html

Christchurch airport second in the world to go carbon neutral

Thursday, 24 January 2008

Christchurch International Airport has gone carbon neutral, making it the second airport company in the world to do so after Stockholm's LVF.

Chief executive Rene Bakx today announced that after much measuring, managing, mitigating and reducing, the airport had received its carboNZero certificate from Landcare Research.

To get certified a business must measure its emissions, develop a plan to reduce them and purchase carbon credits to offset any remaining emissions.

Mr Bakx said there were a number of ways to immediately curb the airport's environmental impact.

"We are using a building management system to maximise our energy efficiency, and energy, electricity is by far the biggest contributor to our carbon foot print from this site.

"We've got waste recycling programmes. We are recycling former road materials in the runway maintenance programmes. We are investing in specific grass species that don't require us to spray and don't grow as fast as other grasses."

Other initiatives include using ground water to cool the terminal and converting heating systems from diesel to LPG.

 - NZPA


Posted by NEC on 7/2/07; 10:37:02 AM
from the News dept.

Discuss
smallLogo: Nelson Enviroment Centre
Five easy steps towards sustainability

Story taken from the Ministry for the Environment Website - link below

Businesses are often surprised at how much can be saved through simple, straightforward changes. By incorporating just a few of steps below, you could find that as well as saving money, you'll discover other ways to improve efficiency.

1. Switch off when not in use

Reduce your energy waste by switching off of unnecessary lights and equipment, especially when everyone's gone home for the day. Think about the savings this could make to your energy bill.  Visit EECA's EMProve website (www.eecabusiness.govt.nz/emprove/) for more ways to manage your energy use and reduce your bills.

 

2. Green your office stationery

Save money and support environmental practices by reducing your paper use and buying stationery products which are kinder on the environment, for example paper that is non-bleached or from sustainable forests. Make a difference by specifying "greener" printing options when ordering your letterhead and business cards - and think carefully about print quantities.

 

3. Recycle all that you can

Reduce the amount of rubbish you're sending to landfill by recycling. As well as paper, you can recycle plastics, tins, glass, and your food scraps can be composted.

Visit the Reduce Your Rubbish website (www.reducerubbish.govt.nz/work/) for more ways to reduce your rubbish at work.  

 

4. Choose greener and safer cleaning products

Choose products with ingredients that have less impact on human health and on the environment. Many cleaning products end up in local wastewater systems, and eventually in waterways. Reduce your rubbish by choosing products with minimal and/or recyclable packaging.

 

5. Choose energy efficient equipment and appliances

Buy energy efficient equipment and appliances. Check out the energy label - the more stars, the more energy efficient the appliance. Many appliances and office equipment now have powersave features too.

Visit the Australian EnergyStar website (www.energystar.gov.au/) to compare the efficiency of buildings.

 

Ready for more?

Check out the Ministry for the Environment website for more information - www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/sustainable-industry for more information

 


Posted by NEC on 5/29/07; 2:02:29 PM
from the News dept.

Discuss
smallLogo: Nelson Enviroment Centre
If You See Dead Birds...

 

What to Do if You See Numerous Dead Birds on the Shore?

 

If there is a significant number of dead birds, eg 3 or more, then there are two options:

  1. Ring the MAF hotline 0800 80 99 66 as they are supposed to investigate die offs.  They will be especially interested in shorebirds due to the risk of bird flu arriving in this way. The person on the phone may try to pass it off as a "DOC problem" but if you mention bird flu, it might get some better action.  
  2. The second option is to send some bodies to Massey.  DOC has a contract which covers the cost of the post mortem and it will hopefully provide us with answers.  Sending fresh is best, but frozen is ok as a second choice.  Instructions on how to send are below:

For post mortem examination of threatened species:

See the website at htpp://ivabs.massey.ac.nz/centres/wildlife and read ≥Massey Submission Instructions≈ for details on how to submit a specimen.

Email: Brett  Gartrell or Maurice Alley at Massey:  B.Gartrell@massey.ac.nz ; or M.R.Alley@massey.ac.nz ; to let  them know it's coming.

Email Brett for more information if you need interpretation of results or advice. 


Posted by NEC on 12/19/06; 2:24:11 PM
from the News dept.

Discuss
smallLogo: Nelson Enviroment Centre


This is a Nelson Web Site