There is no Council curbside collection in the East Tamaki business precinct, so many recycleables get thrown in the bin with organic waste and ultimately end up in landfill. Separating your recycleables and reducing waste to landfill can save you $$$$, and we have a responsibility as a business community to make socially conscious waste management decisions. We are committed to assisting you in this process.
In 2014 with funding from Auckland Council's Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund, we undertook a feasibility study into waste minimisation in East Tamaki. Download a copy of the Feasibility Report here.
Since then we have introduced a number of initiatives and resources to assist local businesses to minimise waste to landfill. These include educational forums, annual pallet collections and recycling initiatives below.
Pallet Collection/Recycling
Roughly 262 tonnes has been diverted from landfill since we began in 2014.
Thanks to the 42 local businesses that participated in the October 2017 free pallet collection and recycling which resulted in a total of 67.5 tonnes of waste being diverted from landfill to recycling. A total of 180 tonnes was diverted in 2016.
Pass it on - finding a new life for used items
This web facility enables GETBA members to submit unsaleable items, seconds, used electronic equipment or appliances, useful manufacturing by-products, or any other items that are clogging up your business place! If you have a storage room in your business that’s getting filled with stuff you’ll never use again, or you’re sick of seeing useful by-products being discarded from the production line, check out the ‘Pass it on’ page by clicking on the link below.
East Tamaki Recycling Directory
This comprehensive directory provides information on what materials can be recycled, where to recycle them, and who to contact.
Free Plastic Recycling
This free service provides a local recycling point at the East Tamaki Transfer Station for GETBA members to dispose of type 2 (HDPE) & type 4 (LDPE) plastics. This includes milk, juice and water bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, flexible container lids, plastic bags, and industrial shrink wrap. You can also recycle glass bottles and cans free of charge, but all items must be separated. Download a guideline for your workplace here.
*To utilise this service you must obtain a GETBA Waste Minimisation Card (see above) by contacting Karen Hadley at the GETBA office.
Love Food Hate Waste
The government has launched an initiative to tackle the problem of more than 100,000 tonnes of food being wasted every year. Waste industry body WasteMINZ has partnered with 59 councils in the $1 million project to educate New Zealanders on ways to reduce the amount of food being sent to landfill each year.
The campaign is about changing attitudes and getting people to think about reducing food waste in the same way recycling has become the norm over the past generation.
Waste Minimisation Network
We have created a Waste Minimisation Network Group via 
which is made up of local businesses and industry experts. This is an open forum to discuss waste issues facing businesses in East Tamaki, and provide tips and advice about diverting waste from landfill. This has already proven helpful to those involved and we hope to build on that further by extending the audience, and providing regular updates about the waste industry.
Free EcoBiz Advisor Service
Auckland Council is offering small to medium businesses a free EcoBiz advisor service, which provides businesses with independent advice to make it easier to start improving their environmental performance. The EcoBiz Advisors are experts and will offer advice on energy consumption, water use, waste minimisation, and any potential pollution impacts. Click here for more information, or email Jennifer Chenery at ecobiz@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to arrange a site visit.
Plastic Recycling Chart
Other useful resources
> Resource efficiency in building and related industries
> Guide to sustainable business practices
> Sustainable Business Network
> Sustainable Business Council