 Waste Minimisation Learning Centre
The Waste Minimisation Learning Centre is located at the
Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station, 50 The Concourse,
Henderson.
The Centre's education programme (which is aimed at primary
and intermediate school children) offers a wide range of
information on waste minimisation and presents a number of
alternatives to waste disposal. Your visit may
include:
Worm Farming
 View a variety of worm farm designs, feed the worms food
scraps brought from home, identify worm eggs and observe the
vermicast developed by the worms from food scraps.
Information can be expanded to look at the characteristics
of worms and the differences between tiger worms and
earthworms. Schools have the opportunity to take away
a recycled bath (complete with worms and accessories) for
the development of their own worm farm.
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Composting and worm farms - how to
reduce your domestic refuse (Size 313K)
Composting
Compare the composting of organic material with worm
farming. Look at the different types of composting
bins and compost developed in them. Compare compost
with vermicast and identify the benefits of composting
organic waste and food scraps.
Minimising Waste
 Learn the key points for reducing the volume of waste put
out for weekly household collection and how to sort items
into re-useable resources. Learn where residual waste
is deposited and conceptualise the growing volume of waste
collected and disposed of.
Kerbside recycling is covered in depth, including what items
are collected in the kerbside bins, how they are sorted,
where they go to be recycled and what they are turned in to.
Recycling and Refuse Transfer Station
Tour
 Take a 45-minute tour of the facility wearing hard hats
and sturdy shoes. View the vertical composting
operation for green waste, the resource recovery centre,
abandoned vehicles, steel recycling, the main tipping floor
and recycling areas.
See staff sorting out recyclable items from the general
refuse, and the unloading and loading of refuse and
recycling trucks. Visit the hazardous waste collection
area and gain knowledge about the products that are harmful
to the environment.
Litter
 Litter is an increasing problem facing all cities.
Gain knowledge of what constitutes litter, the advantages of
different types of litterbins, how to combat litter at
school, and the role of the city's Waste Minimisation
Officers.
Waitakere City Council spends in excess of $400,000 every
year removing litter and illegally dumped rubbish!
Just think where else that money could be spent -
swimming pool upgrades, parks, library books, events...
As part of the regional Be a Tidy Kiwi campaign, Council
is promoting the litter free message through the Learning
Centre at the Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station in
Henderson. All school groups who visit the Refuse
Station will learn about the cost of litter to society, and
who pays. Children and parents are encouraged to think
about ways to reduce litter and are invited to sign a pledge
for the BATK wall at the Learning Centre, committing to
keeping their school and community litter free. BATK
T-shirts, hats and drinks bottles are supplied to the
schools as prizes for litter and rubbish related projects.
Out on the streets of Waitakere our Council litter
pickers will be wearing BATK hats and T-shirts. Look
out for them - they may have goodies to give away when they
see people putting rubbish in the litter bins!
Find out about the
Come On: Be A
Tidy Kiwi campaign.
Book your visith2>
To make a booking contact
us. Bookings are essential.
For
schools outside Waitakere City, please contact your local
Council.
| Opening Hours |
9 am - 12 noon, Monday - Friday
Or by appointment |
Cost
(Group Bookings only) |
No cost for schools in
Waitakere City
Senior citizens groups $3 per person |
| Clothing |
Casual clothing is recommended
Closed shoes must be worn
Safety hats provided |
|
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