Zero Waste Programme for Churches

Whare Karakia Para Kore

In partnership with Para Kore, A Rocha offers a Zero Waste programme that supports Eco Churches to develop waste minimisation strategies that is appropriate for each church’s specific context. Para Kore is a kaupapa Māori organisation with over a decade of experience working with community groups, marae and schools towards zero waste. There is so much for churches to discover and learn by working with Para Kore and by engaging with a Māori worldview as we work towards reducing waste together.

If your church is interested in the Zero Waste programme, contact us to find out more and let us help you begin your zero waste journey. Churches will need to join the Eco Church NZ network to access this funded programme.

Churches that access this Zero Waste Programme offered in partnership with Para Kore will work with a Para Kore kaiārahi on their zero waste journey. Para Kore will share information about your church’s waste baseline and tracking data with us so that we can offer support to your eco church team as needed.

What does it involve?

The Zero Waste Programme for Churches involves:

An initial kaupapa presentation to your church either in-person or online by the Para Kore waste advisor / kaiārahi. The Para Kore kaiārahi will outline the Para Kore kaupapa and the components of the Para Kore programme. We recommend having key decision makers and church representatives attending this presentation. It would be ideal for those involved in church hireage and facilities maintenance to be in attendance too. Church representatives have an opportunity to ask questions about the programme and the commitments required. Discussions can also focus around the key waste issues facing your church.
Once your church has made a decision to join the Para Kore programme, the next step is to sign up with Para Kore to confirm your church’s commitment to the zero waste programme. When signing up, for Rōpū Type on the form - please select Eco Church. The Champion Name on the form identifies who Para Kore should contact at your church about this initiative.
We recommend communicating to the whole congregation about the zero waste journey that the church is planning to embark on. Talk to us if you would like ideas about how to do this. Also invite as many people as possible from your church to attend the waste check to increase buy-in for the initiative. Regular church hirers who use the church premises could also be invited to the waste check.
The waste check is the main activity that the Para Kore kaiārahi will help facilitate at the church. The waste check helps identify the current waste practices at your church. The waste check could happen after a church service, or an evening or a weekend. A number of churches have found it convenient to hold it after the Sunday service, as people can just stay back after church for it.
Based on the results of the waste check, the kaiārahi will support your church by recommending goals and strategies to move towards zero waste and what new systems can be introduced at your church to support these goals.
In some regions, Para Kore is able to provide recycling equipment and signage at no cost to your church. In other regions, recycling equipment may need to be purchased or we can direct you to local suppliers.
The next step is to get your congregation, staff and other users of your facilities onboard with the new waste systems.
The kaiārahi will discuss with your zero waste champion how to track progress over time.
Additional wānanga on special topics can be provided to your church if required.
On an annual basis, the Para Kore kaiārahi will work with the zero waste champions to review progress your church is making towards reducing waste.

For more information about the above steps, please download the Whare Karakia Para Kore document.

Recommended format for churches:

A number of churches have tried out the format where the zero waste waste check happens on a Sunday after the main service. The Sunday service is themed around caring for creation or has a focus around zero waste (e.g. “Zero Waste Sunday”) so that the whole church congregation can be part of the learning and can get onboard the zero waste idea. The Para Kore kaiārahi can help facilitate an interactive group activity that is suited for all-age services and youth too. So it’s an excellent way to get tamariki and rangatahi involved! Church hirers who use the church premises regularly can also be invited to attend. Everyone is invited to stay back for the waste check after the service - this is an interactive and eye-opening experience for everyone participating - so encourage lots of people to stay for this. After the Sunday service, there’s usually a break either for refreshments or a simple lunch, followed by the waste check. During the waste check, a representative sample of waste from the church premises is sorted and checked through to identify waste that could be diverted from landfill. This then forms the baseline for tracking progress and provides insights into the waste minimisation and recycling strategies that are suitable for the church’s context and premises.