3R provide practical and innovative advice and service solutions for industry and government to help meet growing demand for more sustainable business practices.
PaintWise
When Resene Paints Ltd wanted to develop a nationwide paint and packaging takeback and recycling programme they looked to the expertise of 3R.
3R has designed and implemented an efficient system for the in-store takeback of paint and packaging from Resene customers. The system includes a “world-first” mobile paint collection and recovery vehicle that is now patented in New Zealand and Australia. In 2007 3R received the·Sustainable Business Network award in Sustainable Design and Innovation, for the PaintWise mobile crushing technology. This award recognised an·innovation that had proven economic, environmental and social benefits and was an influence in its business sector.
Paint can be taken back to participating Resene stores and local transfer stations nationwide.
For participating store locations click here. If you are recycling Resene brand paint, there is no charge. If you are recycling another brand of paint you will be charged a small fee.
Paint from the stores is collected by 3R. We put it through specialised processes to recover as many materials as possible. We are also working in partnership with universities and research organisations to develop new recycling techniques to increase the amount we can recycle.
3R has also joined forces with Fletcher Building, Resene, Golden Bay Cement and Firth Industries to develop innovative uses for waste paint in concrete. This collaboration is called the PaintCrete Partnership. Read the brochure below to find out more about the exciting development that is Paintcrete.
Some of the recycled paint is provided to community graffiti abatement groups. To access this paint visit the Resene website. To read more about anti-graffiti groups using recycled paint Click Here.
Paint was supplied to Fraser High School students clean up graffiti at the Western Community Centre in Nawton. Manager Nicki Spring;"On behalf of the Western Community Centre I would like to thank Resene PaintWise programme for your donation of paint to remove graffiti around our premises. We are all grateful of your support."
Paint is supplied free to community groups to assist with graffiti removal throughout New Zealand with thousands of litres of paint being distributed since the programme started.·
The following quote from Karen Warman, Marketing Manager for Resene emphasises the strength and success of the relationship between Resene and 3R and the success of the PaintWise Programme itself;
“Already tens of thousands of paint containers and litres of paint have been returned through the Resene PaintWise service, with large volumes of paint provided free to a wide range of community groups. Resene PaintWise is becoming a recognised way for New Zealanders to responsibly dispose of unwanted paint and packaging, evidenced by the increasing volumes being returned, as well as educating the public as to how they can minimise the effect of their decorating on the environment through sensible purchasing, storage and disposal of paint. We intend to continue working with 3R to develop innovative solutions on how to manage waste paint and packaging. New projects are already underway and Australia is keen to learn from New Zealand's pioneering experience." Karen Warman, Resene Marketing Manager·
Founded in 1975, LeaderBrand is recognised as one of New Zealand’s largest and most diversified horticultural and fresh food businesses.
With farms located in Gisborne and Canterbury, LeaderBrand is the largest grower, packer, and shipper of buttercup squash (Kabocha) in the world, and the largest grower, packer, and shipper of broccoli, lettuce and fresh sweetcorn in New Zealand. They are also one of the largest growers of 'Gisborne Chardonnay' and Pinot Gris grapes.
“The highly discerning Japanese market is a large scale export customer and the protocols they require are applied to all LeaderBrand produce,” explains the company’s Annual Crop Manager Richard Burke (pictured).
“We’re certified with NZGAP and have a certified HACCP-based food safety programme. We also conduct regular random residue tests and only use certified non-GMO seed stocks.”
Customers can trace the origin of a delivery directly to the paddock it was grown in, and view online documentation relating to the planting, crop management and harvesting of the produce in that paddock, plus subsequent storage, packing and shipping to the customer.
“We grow over 3,000ha of fresh produce every year, so we’re probably the largest single user of agrichemicals in the country,” says Richard.
And when it comes to recycling their plastic containers, Richard supports Agrecovery all the way.
Agrecovery Rural Recycling and Westland Milk Products are working together to achieve the co-operative's aim of ensuring the West Coast leads the New Zealand dairy industry in sustainable rural recycling initiatives.
Chris Pullen, Environmental Manager for Westland Milk Products says “We want to ensure that the West Coast dairy industry is highly regarded for its contribution to environmental sustainability.
“With Agrecovery’s help we can promote international best practice and protect New Zealand’s reputation for sustainable agribusiness practice right here on the West Coast.”
The collection of unwanted agrichemicals this year is set to be stronger than 2010's record of nearly 10 tonnes collected through the nationwide Agrecovery Chemicals Programme.
Otago topped the seven regional collections in 2010 with 1921 kilograms collected.
According to Debbie Sherwood, coordinator for the Agrecovery Chemicals programme, booking volumes have been equally strong in 2011, showing chemicals are still a problem on many properties.
“We have completed three collections so far this year, with a record 2060 kg collected in Canterbury. Four other regional collections are in the planning stages, including the Otago/Southland collection where bookings close on 2nd September.”
National leaders in product stewardship development 3R Group has added another accolade to its impressive CV with a paint recycling programme under its management gaining Product Stewardship accreditation.
3R manages the PaintWise paint and packaging take-back scheme on behalf of Resene.
Resene PaintWise is one of six programmes to secure Ministry of Environment (MfE) accreditation to date.
3R Group Executive Director Graeme Norton said the company was thrilled the Resene PaintWise programme joins another programme the company has developed, Agrecovery Rural Recycling, in receiving accreditation.
Paint can be taken back to participating Resene stores and local transfer stations nationwide.
Paintcrete Brochure
Paint was supplied to Fraser High School students clean up graffiti at the Western Community Centre in Nawton. Manager Nicki Spring;
“Already tens of thousands of paint containers and litres of paint have been returned through the Resene PaintWise service, with large volumes of paint provided free to a wide range of community groups. Resene PaintWise is becoming a recognised way for New Zealanders to responsibly dispose of unwanted paint and packaging, evidenced by the increasing volumes being returned, as well as educating the public as to how they can minimise the effect of their decorating on the environment through sensible purchasing, storage and disposal of paint. We intend to continue working with 3R to develop innovative solutions on how to manage waste paint and packaging. New projects are already underway and Australia is keen to learn from New Zealand's pioneering experience."