Zero waste Christmas workshop this week

Pirongia’s Ruth Webb is running a free community event in Te Awamutu on Friday that will offer some creative and sustainable solutions with Christmas in mind.

The Zero Waste Christmas Ideas event will be from 7.30pm to 9pm on Friday, November 13, at the Te Awamutu Bible Chapel, in Chapel Drive.

Ruth, who describes herself as a passionate exponent of sustainability and waste management, said the event had been sponsored by Waipā District Council’s Waste Minimisation Fund. “It aligns with what they are trying to achieve, and although it’s a first for me, I may look at doing more of them.  I think there is a lot more content I would like to get through.”

Friday’s interactive workshop is for “all ages and stages of the waste-free journey”, she said.  There will be demonstrations, including on how to make bees’ wax wraps, make Christmas gifts and how to make alternate wrapping paper, swapping out paper wrapping for fabric.

Ruth already does a fair amount of recycling through her operation, Ruth’s Re-Creations. Much of her craftwork and re-purposed material appears at the monthly Pirongia market – she is adapting the same concept to the workshop.

“The message of zero waste will include elements of recycling, refusing, reducing, reusing or re-purposing, repairing and rotting, as in composting. Those coming along will first watch the demonstrations and will then get a chance to do it themselves.”

Ruth asks those keen to come along to register with her beforehand, mainly to ensure she has sufficient material on hand at the workshop to enable everyone to have a go.

More information, and registration, is through Ruth Webb at 021 131 6736, or email [email protected].

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