Look at this cool way of recycling used oral care products!
Solway
Primary School in Masterton recently unveiled its recycled
community garden made from oral care waste after winning a national recycling competition in which schools all around the country recycled over 51,000 toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, and dental floss containers.
Run by Colgate and recycling pioneers, TerraCycle, between 1 August and 16 November 2018, the Colgate Community Garden Challenge invited preschools, primary and secondary schools nationwide to collect all brands of oral care waste and send it to TerraCycle, who will give the waste a second life by creating new products.
By taking part in the competition, Solway Primary School were the lucky winner of a recycled community garden sets, which includes garden bed, custom made bench, rubbish bin,
and a $300 Mitre 10 gift voucher to buy seeds, plants and gardening supplies.
Besides showing how recycled materials can be used as a sustainable alternative to virgin plastic, Colgate and TerraCycle hope the garden sets will promote gardening and healthy eating among schools. Solway Primary School teacher, Steve Hornby, said the children were delighted to receive their community garden set after embracing the challenge of recycling during the competition.
“Even though we’re a small community, we still wanted to make a difference recycling all our old toothbrushes and floss containers for the chance to win a recycled garden. The students were so happy when we won and the garden will be used to promote gardening skills and healthy eating,” Mr Hornby said.
Colgate Vice President and General Manager of South Pacific, Julie Dillon, congratulated Solway Primary School for their win.
“The success of the 2018 Colgate Community Garden Challenge is down to the commitment of the kids who participated. Colgate is delighted to see this hard work has paid off and the kids being awarded their gardening prizes. We look forward to seeing how their gardens grow in the coming months,” Mrs Dillon said.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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85.2% Yes
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13.5% No
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1.2% Other - I'll share below
Railing planters
To gain extra growing space, make and hang these easy-to-build planters on almost any wooden fence or deck railing. Use Resene FX Blackboard Paint so you can easily identify what plants are in each. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
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