Transition Pt Chevalier, Minutes of Monthly Meeting, 13 May 2014

Present: Niki, Jenny, Anna, Heidi, Ellen, Adrian, Chris (late)

Apologies: Yolanda, Ally

Agenda:

• E-Waste disposal

• Plastic Bag-free Auckland

• CSA

E-Waste disposal: Niki had pamphlets available from a company that processes E-waste, “E-Green NZ Ltd”, and she had met the manager who seems to be a nice guy with integrity. The E-waste disposal services offered by Council are far from ideal. Only some parts are recovered here – the rest is landfilled or sent overseas to processing plants that are environmentally and socially irresponsible. Adrian has used E-Green NZ Ltd, and recommends them. His experience was that it cost $25 to give them a tv. This is the reality – without the cost of responsible disposal included in the cost of the item, disposal at the end of its life either involves volunteer labour or it costs money.

E-Green NZ Ltd. 44p Portage Rd, New Lynn, 09 827 4815, www.egreen.co.nz, info@egreen.co.nz

Plastic Bag-free Auckland: Anna had attended the Green's meeting about a plastic-free Auckland, organised by Denise Roche. Many will have read about / signed the petition to make Auckland plastic bag-free, which was organised by a marine biologist. Anna wanted to bring attention to this movement, wondered what had been achieved or discussed in Pt Chevalier, and wondered what more we could do.

Ellen described how New World brought in charging for plastic bags, with the proceeds going to local environmental causes, but that in the North Island, this had to be abandoned as there was a backlash, with customers switching to the Countdown / Foodtown supermarkets.

Adrian asked if biodegradable plastic bags were a solution. Ellen explained that no, they aren't biodegradable except in specific environmental conditions (which doesn't include floating in the sea).

Adrian wondered if it was like CFC's – that governments will only legislate after the industries have found technical solutions. Ellen mentioned that two industries which have found better solutions to minimise waste – the tyre and battery industries – are wanting better stewardship legislation, but that it is the government that is not wanting to legislate.

Niki mentioned that many face cleansers / scrubs have plastic beads in them that look like plankton in the sea.

In Pt Chevalier the primary (and intermediate?) schools have collection depots for soft plastic bags. These are collected by Enviroreel, which Ellen has visited. (Betty Kettle organises visits to all the recycling plants). The Enviroreel plant is scary/fantastic, and produces a number of useful, recyclable products.

Options to consider if TPC wants to get involved in this include:

• A stand down in the shops with a display showing how much disposable plastic we've used in a week or a month, with reusable alternatives shown as well
• A long thread of plastic bags we've collected over a length of time and knotted together. This we could weave in and out of Pt Chevalier
• A display in the library, to which the librarians would probably be happy to add some relevant books
• Have a “challenge” of not using any disposable plastic for a week
• Making such a challenge or event an annual affair, as “the thing” that TPC does – an approach other community groups use
• Get the schools involved

Following on the thread of an “annual event” for TPC, we discussed other possibilities:

• street parties
• the “under the line” challenge, to eat for a week for less than $2.20 per day (or whatever the figure is each year),
• making a feast out of the dumpster at Countdown (Countdown could be donating the food prior to it passing the “best before” date to outlets that sell it before the “use before” date at huge discount for people in poverty.
• teaming up with Ben Barton, the chef who organised the Pt Chevalier Community Feast for one of the two options above
• World Environment Day seems like a good time to set an annual event, and of course there are other special days to consider

Community Supported Agriculture

TPC has the opportunity to establish a modest CSA scheme with a Tongan community in Pukekohe, thanks to Ellen's work:

The Tongan group grow food for 50 to 60 Tongan families, under the direction of chief gardener Joshua, who is a volunteer. Amongst other things, they grow kumara, corn, watermelons and brassicas. They lease land from Council, but it has no water supply. The half-round barn doesn't lend itself to water collection. In order to pay the bill for their trucked-in water, they have been selling some of their produce. Most recently, Ellen arranged the purchase of 190 kg of kumara for TTPC.

The growing method is currently not organic, although the kumaras we bought were spray free. However, Joshua is keen to try organic methods. He is concerned about yields, though. The group is putting in a request to lease the neighbouring land, too, which is lying fallow and won't have been affected by conventional growing practices in recent years.

Niki, Heidi and Jenny are keen to join Ellen in establishing this CSA and are willing to put money in up-front. A meeting has been set to come up with 2 or 3 possible financial/organisational models to discuss with Joshua. All interested in being part of a committed group to set the CSA up are welcome. We will also discuss the level of our involvement, eg do we get involved with obtaining seaweed, sawdust, horsepooh.

Meeting at 6 pm, Wednesday 28 May, Heidi's place: 16 Newell St, 8465646

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