Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo is strengthening its commitment to protecting wildlife and the environment by transforming the way visitor waste is managed on site, following a detailed waste audit delivered by WM New Zealand.
As part of its 2023–2027 strategy, Te Nukuao is guided by its kaupapa Me Tiaki, Kia Ora! – we must look after our environment, so all things will flourish. That philosophy underpinned the decision to partner with WM Sustainability Services to better understand what happens to the waste generated by a quarter of a million visitors who pass through the gates each year.
Chris Jerram, Director – Safety, Assets & Sustainability, says the project directly aligns with the Zoo’s role as environmental kaitiaki.
“We’re here to care for animals and protect nature, so it makes sense that we also look closely at the systems behind the scenes,” he says. "This audit helped us make sure our daily operations match the values we promote.”
The waste audit supported Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo’s strategic focus on Whānau – Our Role, which centres on setting strong sustainability targets, climate action, and engaging the community in environmental outcomes.
WM Sustainability Services analysed a week’s worth of waste from specially installed bins, with the contents within the general waste and recycling bins hand-sorted, weighed, and photographed. The audit identified that nearly 70% of the materials going into the waste could be recovered if separated correctly. This highlighted a need for change as the current system wasn’t working.
“One of the biggest learnings for us was how powerful good data is,” says Jerram. “It’s allowed us to use data-driven decision-making, which is exactly what our strategy calls for.”
The audit didn’t just measure waste – it measured behaviour. Temporary signage used during the trial was confusing, showing that visitors want to do the right thing, but need simple, intuitive systems to support them.
This insight triggered the next phase: collaboration between the Zoo and WM New Zealand’s marketing, visitor experience, and sustainability teams to create a new, visitor-first bin system. The redesigned stations clearly guide visitors to sort waste into:
“We don’t want people guessing,” Jerram says. “The new bin stations make it easy to care for the environment while you’re enjoying your visit to the Zoo.”
This work also strongly aligns with the Zoo’s foundation pillar of Oranga – A Healthy Organisation, which focuses on safety, wellbeing, continuous improvement and maintaining high-quality assets. Health and safety was a priority throughout the audit, with full PPE, site inductions and low-risk working environments in place.
“Creating a safe workplace while improving sustainability outcomes shows that these things don’t sit in isolation – they go hand in hand,” Jerram says.
For designer Josh Bradshaw, seeing the bins installed across the Zoo was a proud moment.“I put a lot of effort into the finer details for each environment. It’s really great to see the bins come to life.”
A follow-up audit is planned for 2026 to measure the impact of the new system and continue continuous improvement. “This isn’t about ticking a box,” says Jerram. “It’s about living our kaupapa and making sure every part of our operation reflects the kind of future we want for wildlife and wild places.”
“Since their introduction, the new bins have become a standout feature across the Zoo, with both staff and visitors embracing them as a simple, engaging way to make a positive environmental impact.”
The project is part of WM New Zealand’s broader commitment to building a circular economy across Aotearoa, guided by its sustainability strategy, Porohita. Through WM Sustainability Services, organisations are supported with:
Understand the composition of your waste and how you can reduce it.
Incorporate best practice waste management into the design of your new building or development.
Engaging our social enterprise partner to reduce waste and support communities.
Obtain sustainable, locally-made internal bins for your office.
ISO 14064 Scope 3 carbon emission data associated with landfill disposal.
Our team of qualified and experienced sustainability experts can help you achieve your sustainability and environmental goals.
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