Green Team get ready for AIMS Games recycling challenge

Thursday, 1 September 2022

Mount Maunganui Intermediate's Green Team, who will be helping waste minimisation efforts at this year's AIMS Games.

A group of 40 intermediate-aged Tauranga students have far loftier goals than winning medals during this year’s AIMS Games.

The Green Team will once again be out in force during the event, which starts this weekend, ensuring the environmental impact of having almost 11,000 athletes in the Bay of Plenty city is kept to a minimum.

Organised by recycling advocates Waste Watchers and supported by Tauranga City Council, the team hopes to divert at least 65 per cent of all AIMS Games waste away from landfills.

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Members of Mount Maunganui Intermediate's Green Team.

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Waste Watchers consultant Marty Hoffart coordinates the army of student volunteers who run the recycling stations at the games. He also runs a pre-training day prior to the event to ensure his “army” is prepared.

“The training day involves taking almost 50 students from four intermediate schools in Tauranga and getting them ready to become recycling ambassadors during this year’s games,” said Hoffart, who has been training the Green Teams and assisting with the games for over a decade.

The team’s main role is to help reduce waste sent to landfill and increase recycling, and it’s a role they take seriously, he said.

“It’s hugely important that visitors to our city can see the pride and care we show as hosts, whether it be providing accommodation, getting out and supporting them or giving them options to dispose of their waste,” said Hoffart.

“Team managers and supporters can also do their bit by thinking through what they’re wrapping lunches and snacks in.

“Reusable containers and drink bottles are the best option, and choosing food vendors that offer compostable products.”

In 2019 – the last time the event took place before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold – Hoffart and his crew collected approximately 4.4 tonnes of AIMS Games waste and ensured more than 66 per cent of it by weight was composted or recycled after spending the week patrolling compost, recycling and waste bins AIMS Games venues.

AIMS Games tournament director Kelly Schischka said she is fiercely proud of the work the Green Team has achieved in previous tournaments, and has high hopes for the future.

“We’d love to make this the world’s first zero waste games,” said Schischka, “and the role Marty and his team plays is invaluable to that.

“This next generation is passionate about looking after the environment, and it’s up to the rest of us to give them the tools and support to help them do it.”

Tauranga City Council, through the Resource Wise Events Programme, provide event waste equipment such as bin covers, litter pickers and recycling flags to the team.

To cut down on single-use disposable cups, they’re also partnering with one of the games’ coffee carts to offer a discount on beverages for those who bring along a reusable cup.

In partnership with the AIMS Games Trust, council is also launching a new initiative for 2022 games called ‘AIMS Games Gives Back’.

Tauranga City Council manager: venues and events, Nelita Byrne, said: “The initiative provides an opportunity for athletes to give back to the local community while they are staying in Tauranga.

“This year, AIMS Games Gives Back will focus on giving back to the environment through organised beach clean-ups at Pāpāmoa Beach and at Mount Maunganui main beach.

“Beach clean-ups help protect our beautiful Te Moana a Toi by keeping rubbish and waste from entering our precious marine environment.”

AIMS Games Gives Back aligns with the environmental ethos of the games and their commitment to diverting waste from landfill, developing public transport initiatives and educating and creating awareness about reducing the event’s environmental footprint.