General Archives - SeatSmart

Keep New Zealand Beautiful takes over SeatSmart standard

Aotearoa New Zealand’s only child car seat recycling programme is entering a new era as Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB) takes it over. Sustainability experts 3R Group started SeatSmart over a decade ago, with the mission of collecting and dismantling expired or damaged child car seats so the metal, plastic, and straps can be recycled or reused. It has 47 collection sites in 10 regions, and after 12 years of operation, over 53,400 seats have been collected, and more than 240,000kg of material has been recycled or reused. KNZB Support Manager Wayne Gazley says they’re eager to get stuck in when they take over on 1 November. “We think 3R have set up a fantastic programme and we’re keen to ...

Waste free tips for parents with new babies, with Kate Fenwick standard

Kate Fenwick is a waste free warrior and motivational speaker who has worked with the community and councils for over 17 years. As a new mum she advocated for modern cloth nappies and was integral to them becoming mainstream again. She has developed and delivers parenting classes promoting waste free parenting options, and now delivers a variety of sessions on different waste related topics. The arrival of a new baby, whether you’re a new parent or seasoned pro, has a big impact on your home, your wallet, and the amount of waste you produce. Nappies, wipes, food, packaging – the list goes on, with the majority largely made to be single use. There are many changes you can make, but remember ...

Child car seat recycling a sign of the times standard

Media release: Just a few years ago there weren’t many people who would think it was possible to recycle a child car seat, much less have an option to actually do so. However, since the trial and official launch of the SeatSmart child car seat recycling programme over 8,000 seats have been diverted from landfill. The programme may seem rather niche in the greater recycling landscape but it’s a sign of things to come, when the majority of items coming into the household will have a pathway for reuse, repurposing or recycling. The increase in volume through SeatSmart over the last year is also an example of the dramatic change in how the public is starting to think and act ...

New life for Greater Wellington child car seats standard

We are really excited to see that just over seven months after launching in the Greater Wellington region SeatSmart is making a difference. The programme seems to have struck a chord with residents, with more than 300 seats collected and sent for recycling since it launched there in April. Like seats from other regions these are sent to the Department of Corrections for offenders in the community work programmes to dismantle. “It’s a terrific indoor project for our community work team when the Wellington weather prevents us from working outdoors,” says Jayne Stevens, Service Manager at Wellington Community Corrections. “Offenders are amazed at how much of a child car seat can be recycled. They’re enjoying working as a team, gaining ...

SeatSmart celebrates 6000th seat standard

SeatSmart reached an exciting milestone in October when we collected our 6000th seat. The seat was collected from Baby on the Move Botany in Auckland. The programme was officially launched in April 2016 with the aim of tackling the large number of child car seats going to landfill each year. At least 40,000 child car restraints reach their expiry date each year in New Zealand. Most end up in landfill, despite around 90 per cent of a typical seat being recyclable. SeatSmart aims to tackle this waste issue and at the same time raise awareness of expiry dates on car seats which in turn improves safety for children on our roads. The plastic from the seats is recycled into new ...

Child car seat recycling trifecta standard

The SeatSmart child seat programme, which set out to reduce the number of expired child car seats going to landfill, has produced a trifecta of benefits. It not only helps protect the environment and children on our roads, but also enables community work offenders to learn new skills. Expired or damaged seats that are dropped off at participating baby goods stores and council transfer stations are then dismantled by Department of Corrections community work offenders, so the components can be recycled. Acting Chief Probation Officer Graham Wainwright says the programme helps with the work and living skills component of the offenders’ sentence. “Individuals can access opportunities that help them develop skills and abilities that will hopefully set them up for ...

SeatSmart is coming to Wellington image

We are absolutely delighted to say that Wellington City Council have awarded SeatSmart funding to help bring car seat recycling to Wellington in 2017! So, save your expired or damaged seats from landfill, we’ll have drop off points in various locations thanks to the Council and support from Baby On The Move – Wellington North, Baby On The Move – Wellington South and the Sustainability Trust. More information to come in the New Year! Since we wrote this post in December, we’ve been fortunate enough to gain support from both the Upper Hutt City Council and Hutt City Council to extend the programme to the Hutt Valley. We’re looking forward to opening collection sites in Wellington and now the Hutt ...

Over 1700 seats recycled in last 12 months! standard

Thanks to everyone who has recycled their child car seats through SeatSmart over the last 12 months. End of March 2016 marked the end of our successful trial period, covering April 2015 to March 2016. In this period we have: collected 1,713 car seats that would have otherwise gone to landfill or continued in use despite being expired or damaged; extended collections to 11 sites in 6 cities; sent approximately 6,000kg of plastic, 850kg of metal and 170kg of straps for recycling or repurposing; and provided meaningful work for Department of Corrections work programmes. A review of the programme has set some exciting goals for the next 12 months, including a target of 3,500 seats recycled. We have also amended the ...

Local funding brings SeatSmart to Christchurch standard

The SeatSmart child car seat recycling programme is opening in Christchurch thanks to support from Canterbury’s Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust (SIFT). The programme is already operating in Auckland, Hamilton, Hastings and Nelson and aims to collect and recycle some of the 40,000 plus child car seats going to landfill each year in New Zealand. According to Michelle Duncan of 3R Group, the SeatSmart programme manager, up to 94% of a car seat’s components can be recycled, bringing significant benefits and freeing up valuable landfill space. “Seats are dismantled by Department of Corrections as part of their community work programmes, and the recovered plastic is recycled into new products used in the building industry. “Metal parts are taken to metal recyclers, ...

Finalists in SBN Awards standard

3R were delighted for SeatSmart to be announced as a finalist in the Sustainable Business Network Awards for 2015: SeatSmart child car seat recycling programme – Mega Efficiency Innovation Award 3R were also nominated themselves in the Mega Efficiency Impact Award. We’re looking forward to the Awards dinner in November! Read more: Finalists announced

Categories ArchivesGeneral

Keep New Zealand Beautiful takes over SeatSmart standard

Waste free tips for parents with new babies, with Kate Fenwick standard

Child car seat recycling a sign of the times standard

New life for Greater Wellington child car seats standard

SeatSmart celebrates 6000th seat standard

Child car seat recycling trifecta standard

SeatSmart is coming to Wellington image

Over 1700 seats recycled in last 12 months! standard

Local funding brings SeatSmart to Christchurch standard

Finalists in SBN Awards standard

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