LOOKING TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY
Info & Track recognises the importance of environmental and social responsibility. We have identified the following areas where we are able to reduce our impact:
- giving staff & customers the opportunity to recycle rubbish.
- implementing a Waste Minimisation Strategy to encourage reduction, reuse and recycling of rubbish.
- using more sensitive cleaners free of harsh chemicals.
- encouraging visitors to purchase experiences over consumables.
- participating in Earth Hour by switching off our shop lights for one hour.
- participating in ‘clean-up’ days of the natural areas visited by our tours.
- equipping our customers with the necessary knowledge to reduce their impact on our natural environment whilst on our guided walks and tours.
IN SHOP RECYCLING
At Info & Track we encourage our staff and customers to recycle. We have three recycling bins. Two in the main shop and one upstairs in our office. We recycle paper, cardboard, plastics, metal and glass.
Recently we have made the move to recycled paper, energy efficient lighting and biodegradable cleaning products wherever possible.
INFO & TRACK TWELVE MILE DELTA CLEANUP DAY
On Wednesday 25th November 2009, Info & Track staff members travelled to Twelve-Mile Delta to clean up rubbish that had been left around the area.
Why Twelve-Mile Delta?
Twelve-Mile Delta was chosen as a location as it is a conservation reserve we visit on our Paradise Safari scenic tours. It is a Lord of the Rings location, the start of a popular walkway and an area where many locals launch their boats from. In addition to this it is also a Department of Conservation campsite.
What did we find?
We collected a range of rubbish including clothing, bottle tops, cigarette butts, tea bags, toilet paper, bits of plastic, disposable drink containers, beer bottles and a tyre. Altogether we collected 4.3kg of rubbish (not including the tyre). The worst areas were those around obvious campsites but generally it was not as littered as we expected. This was a pleasant surprise for us.
This is something we want to work into our sustainability programme at least twice a year. The next clean up day is scheduled for early May. Let us know if there is a local area you think could do with a clean up!
In November 2010 we visited 12 Mile Delta again, resulting in a hefty 3.2kgs of waste collected (including a pair of shoes!). Although a slight decrease on last year's collection - possibly due to the local council's efforts to crackdown on freedom camping leading to increased awareness of the need for campers to properly dispose of their waste - there is evidently still room for improvement. We plan to visit again in 2011 and will continue to keep this area clean when we visit on our regular Paradise Safari trips.
PARADISE SAFARI SUPPORTS GLENORCHY SCHOOL’S
ENVIROSCHOOLS PROGRAMME
We donated $1 for every customer on our Paradise Safari 4x4 LOTR tour during the months of January, February and March 2010 to the Glenorchy School to help fund their Enviroschools programme.
Enviroschools is a programme that becomes part of the school curriculm to teach kids environmental awareness through real life skills and challenges (for example most schools will include teaching skills involved with gardening and producing your own food). A quarter of New Zealand's schools are now part of the programme including Glenorchy School which has won a silver award for it's commitment to the programme and also an environmental award from QLDC.
Previously, Enviroschools was a government funded and supported initiative but recently funding has been cut and the programme relies on the school and the community for support.
Interested in volunteering?
If it weren't for our stunning natural surrounds, Info & Track couldn't do what we do! Help us to conserve our native flora and fauna and keep the Wakatipu Area beautiful by taking part in an environmental initiative. We recommend finding a project near you on www.conservationvolunteers.org.nz or through the Department of Conservation at www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/.
If you are just a short-term visitor to New Zealand, Info & Track encourage you to read the following guide, provided by the Ministry For The Environment, which helps visitors to our country to be eco-wise and reduce their environmental impact: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/sustainable-industry/initiatives/sustainable-tourism/eco-wise-travel.html
