This year’s topic for the annual Keep Rotorua Beautiful (KRB) intermediate speech awards was all about green waste. What it is, where it comes from, what we do with it now and where to from here.
There was not a tree hugger in sight, yet the room was full of committed students speaking out about green waste. Society’s changing attitudes to a wide range of environmental issues means that we can no longer put down green issues as the wild ramblings of a few hippies. Green issues have matured and come of age.
This is evident by the growing number of our young people who know , care and speak out about the changes we must make, starting with individuals, families and now especially communities.
The worm has indeed turned with the resurgence and popularity of composting and worm farming both domestically and commercially. Recycling is now seen as a viable business opportunity as well as good for the planet. There is not only money in green waste but energy. These initiatives are sustainable over the long term and make good economic sense.
The intermediate students all spoke with passion, from personal experience in their own families and they had researched what others around the country and the world are doing. It would appear it is the middle generation who have lost touch with doing what’s right, in favour of with doing what’s easy. It is great to see a growing momentum building in our community, returning to a more sustainable way of dealing with organic waste than burying it in a landfill.
By the way the winner was Sophia Morrell from Kaitao Intermediate School in Rotorua.
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