Waimakariri District Council is always looking at the most sustainable and environmentally friendly ways to operate.
So it was delighted to be able to use 100% recycled and recyclable panels for the Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw 2024 consultation posters.
These are in place of single use corflute boards which ultimately end up in landfill.
The Council’s Communications and Engagement team were keen to give ImpacTex NZ’s Retex panels a go after hearing about them from colleagues in waste management.
Council’s Waste Asset Manager Kitty Waghorn says she saw a presentation from ImpacTex talking about their relationship with Auckland City Council and was really impressed.
“Auckland City Council send ImpacTex unwanted and worn uniforms and Personal Protection equipment (PPE). ImpacTex then sort the materials, recycle them and return it as signage. I really love that circular, closed loop model of sustainability and I was keen to be able to use something like that at our Council.”
Retex, which is produced in New Zealand, is made by transforming end-of-life textiles such as unwanted cotton and poly-cotton garments, uniforms, and linen into alternatives to products made from virgin non-sustainable materials, such as corflute, polystyrene and fibreglass.
It also prevents unwanted clothing and textiles ending up in landfills.
On its website, ImpacTex estimates that approximately 180,000 tonnes of textile and clothing waste is being dumped in New Zealand landfills every year. This equates to 3.5 tonnes every 10 minutes or 34kg each year for every person living in New Zealand.
ImpacTex have identified the biggest limitation for recycling material is the lack of demand for the end product.
Through the use of this recycled and sustainable product Waimakariri District Council hopes to showcase to other businesses how effective this product could be for temporary signage.
If you’d like to see for yourself, the signs can currently be spotted on the beaches around the Waimakariri District. Pop down and have a look and while you’re there make a submission on the Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw 2024!
Click here to learn more about the Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw 2024
