Central Otago residents are leading the way when it comes to producing home-made cleaning supplies, healthcare products and snacks.

The discovery was made by Wastebusters during its 2021 Resourceful Communities survey, which aimed to identify barriers preventing people in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago from reducing or reusing. 

The survey findings were released today and underline people’s deep concern for our environment and the impact that our choices are making. 

The survey asked people about a range of behaviours from taking your own cup or container, to refilling and repairing. 

As a waste-reduction strategy, 15% of Central Otago respondents make their own cleaning or healthcare products, followed by 11% in Wānaka and 9% in Queenstown.

Central Otago residents are also leading the way when it comes to making their own snacks, ultimately reducing the amount of packaging in their household.

Of the survey respondents, 36% from Central Otago bake their own snacks, followed by 33% in Wanaka and 28% in Queenstown.

As in 2019, when the survey was first undertaken, the main reasons that people do not use their own cups/bags/containers are that they forget or they didn't think they’d need the item. 

They are also not aware that BYO is an option sometimes, especially in regards to bringing a container for takeaways or deli items. 

As part of Plastic Free July this year, Wastebusters will focus on removing some of the barriers around BYO container use. 

According to the survey, the top three influences on our consumer choices are health, our impact on the environment and reducing waste to landfill. People are also deeply concerned for our environment and the impact that their choices are making. 

As expected, COVID-19 has had an impact on our behaviours and concerns. 

“This is reflected in the survey which shows that people are less likely than they were in 2019 to take their own containers for takeaways or meat/deli products. 

“Price is also more of an influence on consumer choice than it was previously.

“What we also found was that people across all demographics are very concerned about their impact on the environment but there were some common barriers to our waste minimising behaviour,” Sophie says.

 People also want businesses to do more to support their waste minimisation efforts. 

“It came through very clearly that individuals want more support from business and government to make it easier to change their behaviour,” Sophie explains. 

“This includes encouraging reusable container options and companies giving feedback to their suppliers about reducing plastic packaging. We all have a part to play in accelerating the transition to a circular economy.”

There was strong support for more information about ways to refuse, reduce, reuse. For example local shopping options and community workshops and online guides.  

Sophie says the information will be used to inform future campaigns and initiatives, create helpful workshops and further online resources, and better target Wastebusters’ activities to have more impact.

“Thanks to all who responded to the survey. Wastebusters has gleaned some great insight into the barriers our communities face reducing and reusing, and how far we have come since 2019.”

For more information and regional breakdown, read the full survey report here.