The Resource Wise Programme is a free initiative to help your organisation cut down on waste, keep resources in use for longer, and explore circular solutions.
The programme consists of five stages for businesses to work through, each stage offering tailored advice, education and support. Along the way, you’ll learn how to shift from a ‘take, make, dispose’ approach to one that focuses on reuse, repair, sharing, and smarter design.
Why join?
You’ll gain insights into your organisation’s waste footprint and find practical ways to cut waste, save money, and lower your carbon footprint. These changes can also enhance your brand, help meet customer expectations and create a positive workplace culture.
More and more people want to support organisations that make a real difference. We’ll support you with tailored advice and tools to help you take the first (or next) step.
If you’re a school or preschool, we can offer customised advice without requiring you to join the full programme.
Organisations in the programme benefit from:
- Waste audits – to identify what waste is produced, and where it’s coming from.
- Waste audit reports and action plans – to summarise the findings of the waste audit and identify where and how waste can be reduced.
- Education – access to waste minimisation education via presentations, workshops or classroom education (schools only).
- Exploring circular practices – look at options to support the circular economy like product-as-a-service models, repair, reuse, repurpose, remanufacturing, sharing, renting and upcycling.
- One-on-one support – receive guidance on ways to reduce waste and achieve higher stages.
- Practical resources – signs, templates and advice for your workplace or school.
- Recognition – certificate and logos to showcase your achievements.
What’s involved?
Want a quick overview of the stages, benefits, and what's involved? Download the Resource Wise Programme Brochure.
Resource Wise Programme Brochure (793kb pdf)
Join the Programme
Sign Terms & Conditions document, complete the pre-survey, and nominate two contact people.
Conduct a waste audit
Provide requested information for a waste audit to be completed in your organisation.
Education
Read the Resource Guide to the Circular Economy, which includes circular economy principles and inspiring case studies.
Plan for success
Share waste audit results with your organisation and complete the post-survey.
Introduce new systems
Introduce or improve systems to divert a key waste stream.
Education
Appoint a workplace champion. Attend Resource Wise and/or other relevant workshop.
Plan for success
Share waste audit results with your organisation and complete the post-survey.
Divert waste
Achieve a 50% diversion rate from landfill through recycling, composting and overall waste reduction.
Education
Learn about reuse, repurpose, and repair. Attend workshops and/or presentations.
Community sharing
Share a story or lesson (success or challenge) with us and other businesses within your sector.
Plan for success
Share waste audit results with your organisation and complete the post-survey.
Reduce waste
Eliminate a common waste material and/or introduce circular procurement practices for a specific product.
Divert waste
Achieve a 70% diversion rate from landfill through recycling, composting and overall waste reduction.
Education
Learn about reuse, repurpose, and repair. Attend workshops and/or presentations.
Plan for success
Share waste audit results with your organisation and complete the post-survey, and inspire others by sharing your success in our Resource Wise campaigns.
Reduce waste
Maintain systems that reduce a key waste stream. Continue investigation opportunities to design out waste.
Divert waste
Achieve an 85% diversion rate from landfill through recycling and continue recycling and composting efforts.
Education
Continue to promote reuse, repurpose, and repair. Attend workshops and/or presentations.
Extra project
Work with us to implement a unique project. Examples include:
- Working with other businesses to create a new service or collection system for a material previously sent to landfill.
- Exploring a closed-loop system* for material streams within your sector or region.
*Closed-loop system - a circular process where materials or products are continuously reused, recycled and reprocessed without creating waste.
How to join
Ready to get involved? Register your interest using the link below. One of our Waste Programme Officers will be in touch to talk you through how the programme works, the support and resources available, and what's involved. You'll then have the opportunity to take this information back to your team and decide whether your organisation would like to join the full programme or register for advice and support only.
Let’s work together to reduce waste and build a more circular, resource-wise Tauranga.
Register your interest for the Resource Wise Programme
Resource Wise Programme Case Studies