We are donating $1 for every customer on our Paradise Safari 4x4 LOTR tour during the months of January, February and March to the Glenorchy School to help fund their Enviroschools programme. NEW!! PARADISE SAFARI SUPPORTS GLENORCHY SCHOOL’S ENVIROSCHOOLS PROGRAMME THIS SUMMER!
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. We are pleased to be involved this summer!
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 2009 by switching off our shop lights.
- participating in ‘clean-up’ days of the natural areas visited by our tours.
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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!