Local eco-businesses, council support Lakes District schools

17 July 2012

Local eco-businesses and council join forces to support Lakes District schools

Ziptrek Ecotours is proud to have joined forces with well-known eco-business Wanaka Wastebusters and the Queenstown Lakes District Council to support the Paper4trees initiative in the region.

On a local and national level, Paper4trees educates schools and preschools about recycling and provides them with the opportunity to exchange their recycling for native trees.

Ziptrek Ecotours is an award-winning adventure ecotourism business renowned for delivering awareness and appreciation of the natural environment, so sees the Paper4Trees programme as “the perfect fit” with its philosophies.

Ziptrek and the Queenstown Lakes District Council are joint sponsors of the Lakes District programme, delivered by Wanaka Wastebusters to 16 schools and preschools. The programme has already seen more than 760 cubic meters of recycling saved from a trip to the landfill in exchange for 380 native trees planted in the local community.

Ziptrek is no stranger to native tree planting, having planted more than 2500 native trees on Bobs Peak since opening.

Ziptrek aims to counteract the introduced Douglas Firs which provide the support for the company’s amazing tree houses built in the tree canopy which connect its ziplines.

"We’re absolutely thrilled to be sponsoring Paper4trees,” said Ziptrek Sales and Marketing Manager Nicky Busst.

“As a 100% sustainable company, we’re always looking for new initiatives that are aligned to our eco-principals, as well as the chance to give something back to our amazing community, so this was a perfect fit.”

Wanaka Wastebusters’ education for sustainability facilitator Simon Williams said the schools and preschools he worked with had embraced the Paper4trees scheme.

“Kids just love planting trees,” he said. “Understanding of the long-term environmental benefits becomes more sophisticated as children get older, but even our youngest preschoolers love the hands-on experience of planting a tree in the earth.”

Paper4trees Programme Manager Cayley Manson said Ziptrek, the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Wanaka Wastebusters deserved “a massive thank you” for their support.

“It’s great to see local businesses so passionate about the environment, from the way they operate to their commitment to the local community.

“We’re thrilled to have support from businesses that have the same values and respect for the environment as we do.”

Ziptrek Ecotours runs zipline canopy tours through Douglas Fir and beech forest on Queenstown’s Bob’s Peak, which provide an exhilarating ride via ziplines through the forest canopy.

There is a strong educational element to their trips, whereby all guests learn more about sustainability and local Ziptrek-supported initiatives, as well as interesting information on the local area.

For more information visit Ziptrek Ecotours at www.ziptrek.com/queenstown-new-zealand.

More about Paper4trees

Paper4trees provides schools and preschools around NZ with the resources they need to set up an in-house paper and cardboard recycling system, and rewards them with native trees for doing so. It has provided NZ schools and preschools with over 42,000 classroom-recycling bins and over 100,000 trees so Kiwi kids are being educated about the importance of separating waste, and learning about recycling, tree planting and replacing the resources in which they use. There are currently over 3,940 NZ schools and preschools participating in all areas around NZ; this number continues to grow weekly as more join. That is the equivalent to 86% of all NZ schools and 42% of all NZ preschools.

ENDS

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