Local favourite Wesley Market, a founding member of the Puketāpapa Low Carbon Network, has worked towards becoming a Zero Waste market since 2016.
Of the 784.25 kg waste collected in the past 18 months at Wesley Market, only 13.15 per cent has gone into landfill, and this year the owners of one of the market's stalls were formally acknowledged for going zero-waste.
Stallholders Gen and Megumi Oshima from the Japanese cuisine stall Kakitsubata switched all of their packaging for compostable materials earlier in the year and have since had their commitment to the Zero Waste effort officially recognised.
“Plastic waste is a growing problem that we have left too long to address. We are making some progress but have a long way to go,” says Harry Doig, Chair of the Puketāpapa Local Board.
EcoMatters Environmental Trust provides the market stallholders and customers guidance on waste minimisation. Over ‘Plastic Free July’ volunteers from the trust distributed reusable bags, some of them sewed and made by a group of volunteers at EcoMatters.
“We’re amping up our efforts in becoming zero waste and together we can get there!” says Bevan Chuang, Market Supervisor, Auckland Council.
