(published NGIA newsletter June ‘09)

May has been a very busy month in the development of Gardenwise. 

The first phase of the Gardenwise pilot will run from July through to September and will look at two distinct types of plastic generated by two sectors of the nursery and garden industry:  films in the commercial sector, and rigid plastics for the retail sector. 

Peter Fraser of Growing Spectrum in Te Awamutu will champion the commercial phase of the pilot.  Growing Spectrum, Annton Nurseries and Bruntwood Nurseries will be involved in the recovery of plastic films; they will assist 3R to identify the best methods of collecting and storing this plastic type for recovery in a commercial grower setting. 

Peter Worsp of Terra Viva Home & Garden Ltd in Christchurch will champion the retail phase of the pilot.  Terra Viva Home & Garden Ltd will be involved in the recovery of rigid plastics (plant pots etc).  They will include an invited focus group of their retail customers to collect, store and return rigid plastics they have purchased back to their retail centre.  The participant’s feedback will be logged on the Gardenwise website www.gardenwise.co.nz at various stages of the pilot

Approaches continue to be made to industry suppliers to show their support of an industry wide product stewardship programme.  Remember to visit www.gardenwise.co.nz for updates and to submit your feedback, suggestions and comments.