Wanaka: An estimated 20 tonnes of rubbish will be collected this Easter by Wanaka Wastebusters as they take on their biggest-ever recycling challenge at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow.

In addition to this, wine drinkers at the event’s inaugural Goodbars.co.nz Wine and Food Expo would find themselves drinking from biodegradable cups made from cornstarch, in another of the airshow’s new green initiatives, according to event manager, Mandy Deans.

Both moves were being planned as part of the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust’s  new management strategies aimed at being as environmentally responsible as possible, and improving on all aspects of the airshow, Ms Deans said.

A meeting had been held this week with Wastebusters events recycling manager, Jeremy Bisson, to plan the massive recycling project.

Approximately 80 labelled and coloured recycling bins would be scattered around the venue to enable plastics, paper, glass and cardboard to be collected separately, with the aim of directing 80% of all rubbish into recycling.

Mr Bisson said staff would monitor the bins and be on hand to assist people.

“We did the (Michael Hill) New Zealand Open in January and we got 85% recycling there. The vast majority of people, if you give them a simple system to use, are really good. I have great faith in human nature.”

At least 12 Wastebusters staff and possibly other volunteers would be working on the project throughout the three day airshow, which would be the biggest event the recycling centre had ever taken on, he said.

“It will be at least twice as big as anything we’ve done so far, on any given day.”

Ms Deans said fifteen thousand of the compostable clear cornstarch cups had been purchased in the North Island and would be offered to people for wine-tasting and for buying wine by the glass.

“It is not compulsory for people to use them but we really hope visitors to the airshow will join with us in making the effort to be as environmentally responsible as we can be.”

The airshow begins on April 2 with the traditional ‘practice day’, followed by two full scheduled airshow days on April 3 and 4. Ticket sales were progressing “extremely well”, she said.

ENDS