Eco Early Childhood Education
The Eco Early Childhood Education (ECE) Project brings trained facilitators to your Preschool or ECE to set up fun, educational systems to minimise waste. The Facilitators work with ECE staff about possibilities to reduce or eliminate these. Together, a custom-made plan specifically for each centre is mapped out. The Facilitators then spend up to 4 months working with the ECEs to fulfil their waste minimisation plan.
The programme is free in the Hibiscus Bays Local Board area and funded by Hibiscus Bays Local Board with plans to expand the program into Upper Harbour Local Board area.
The goal is to embed the concept of kaitiakitanga to establish the Kiwi values of environmental stewardship at an early age. The project is administered through a charitable environmental trust—Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste. The trained facilitator is Samantha Holder with administration by Sarah Williams.
The 2021 Zero Waste Awards recognized the achievements of Children’s Ark ECE in Torbay – a participant in the Eco ECE programme.
Children’s Ark in Torbay have been recognized for their commitment and leadership in reducing waste in the community at the 2021 Zero Waste Awards in Auckland. They received a Highly Commended award for Rangatahi – Leadership. The commendation is a reflection of the work they’ve done at their newly refurbished ECE centre which is well on the way to becoming Zero Waste.
Click HERE to read about the 2021 Zero Waste Awards
Click HERE to read more about their efforts.
