Get the lowdown on lowering your emissions this September as we celebrate not one, but two international days for reducing our environmental impact and living more sustainable lives.
Zero Emissions Day on Sunday 21 September encourages everyone to reduce their carbon footprint and their emissions. While on the Monday 22nd, it’s World Car-Free Day. Of course doing one achieves the other!
One way you can make a BIG difference is to “mix your go” and try some different ways to get around Auckland. Transport is, by far, the biggest contributor to carbon emissions in Tāmaki Makaurau. By switching to public transport, cycling or walking we can turn things around.
And this World Car-Free Day, why not give your car a well-earned nap and get your body moving.
Imagine taking a breezy ride along the Northwestern Cycleway or strolling through your local neighbourhood to the bus stop and getting to enjoy the melodious morning chorus of birdsong.
Give e-bikes a go
If the idea of pedalling up some of Auckland’s steeper paths and streets makes you break out in a sweat, fear not as there’s an electric solution. Thanks to the Go Ebike loan scheme, run by EcoMatters with funding from Auckland Council, you can trial an e-bike for two weeks for free. It’s like speed dating, but with gears and a battery.
If you need help to repair or maintain your bike or want to buy a refurbished one, then head to your local community Bike Hub, for advice and support. The nine Bike Hubs across Auckland are run by community organisations, such as the EcoMatters Bike Hubs which recently celebrated helping 100,000 visitors.
Public transport right at your fingertips
Prefer to make use of your time on your commute? Then try Auckland’s public transport – AT bus, trains or ferries. No HOP card? No worries! You can tag on and off using contactless payment – a contactless debit card, credit card, smartphone or smartwatch. Settle in for some reading or scrolling free time, or the time to come up with your next big idea, while you’re transported from point to point.
You might think doing without the car sounds like a novelty to try for one day, but not for the long term? But think again - Aucklander James Beattie and his family swapped their car for ebikes and buses, and they haven’t looked back. He says biking is often faster than driving and having to look for parking, it’s healthier and more fun, and it works out cheaper than running a car.
Going car-free for a day is great for the planet, for your health and for your soul. You might discover a new café or meet the neighbour you’ve only waved at, or just enjoy the smug satisfaction of gliding past slow-moving traffic in the fast lane.
Food scraps and composting
There are many other simple ways to be sustainable. You can start with something simple like eating all you buy, saving money and waste. See Love Food Hate Waste for lots of tips about meal planning, storage, what to do with leftovers and more.
And then there’s using your food scraps bin for the food waste you can’t avoid. That little green bin might be small; but it’s a climate hero. By using your food scraps bin, instead of sending food scraps to landfill (where they release methane – a super potent greenhouse gas), your food scraps are turned into renewable energy, bio-CO2 and nutrient-rich fertiliser. So yes, your banana peel is turbo-charging tomatoes. If you already use a compost bin, ka rawe! Your food scraps bin is a great partner to your composting system, as anything you can’t compost, you can put in the food scraps bin (yes, any food scraps, even meat bones!).
Recycling
The next small but powerful step you can take is recycling right. Recycling properly means less energy used, fewer emissions, and more materials getting a second life. Auckland Council’s recycling guide shows you exactly what goes in your recycling bin and what doesn’t.
Your family of kerbside bins makes it easy to make a difference, by separating out your recycling and food scraps.
While you’re on a roll, there are plenty of other council supported services to help you live greener. From free composting workshops to dropping off items and buying second-hand at your local community recycling centres, there are loads of ways to reduce waste and emissions while meeting some pretty cool people along the way.
Make this a “sustainable” September – it’s a great opportunity to do our part and lower emissions.
Whether you’re biking to work, sorting your recycling like a pro, or discovering a passion for compost, every little action adds up. Thank you, Auckland!
For more tips and tricks about how you can be more sustainable and lower your emissions visit our website.
