EERST runs environmental programmes and waste assessments for schools, councils and businesses. You will see much about these programmes on this site, they are; the Paper4trees Programme, the Water4schools Programme and the Energy4schools Programme.
We also speak directly with community groups and work with local councils to give practical, simple solutions to their waste problems. Aside from pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars directly into the community, the trust cuts environmental, financial and social costs associated with waste.
Other things we do are:
- Design and implement zero waste programmes
- Provide cleaner production services
- Conduct waste audits for schools, businesses and local government
- Assist with carbon zero projects
- Work to reduce climate change through tree planting
- Manage behaviour change programmes
Who are the Trustees?
Bruce Trask
Bruce has been involved in Education since being a Beginning Teacher in 1965 at Bledisloe School in Taradale. After spending nearly 24 years teaching including three principals positions he left teaching to be the first CEO of Sport Bay of Plenty. In 1993 his life changed direction again when he won a position to create a Zero Waste Education programme for the Tauranga City Council. This programme was first taught in June 1994 and still continues to be taught in over 480 schools in seventeen council areas throughout New Zealand. This programme has recently been translated into Te Reo.
The success of this programme lead to the establishment of the EERST Trust in 2000. Since it’s inception Bruce has been the chairman of the Trust.
Bruce is well known in the community and in 2000 was awarded, along with partner Iris Thomas the Round Table Community Award and in 2003 they both received the Tauranga City Council Community Spirit Award. Bruce was also the first Social Entrepreneur for Community Employment Group in New Zealand.
Bruce continues to work towards making our environment a better place for his many mokopuna through his involvement in Zero Waste Education, Waste education New Zealand Ltd., the EERST Trust’s, Paper4trees and Water4schools programmes and his company Waste Watchers established with long time business partner Marty Hoffart.
Marty Hoffart
Marty is a Director of Waste Watchers Ltd and Chair of the New Zealand Community Recycling Network (CRN). He has helped hundreds of businesses introduce resource efficiency and waste minimisation practices within the workplace. Marty was educated in Canada, holds a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology and a National Certificate in Zero Waste and Resource Recovery in New Zealand. He is co-founder of the award winning Paper4trees programme and is an advocate of product stewardship and extended producer responsibility. He has published articles about end-of-life tyres and frequently speaks about waste related topics at conferences.
Brendon Thomas
An EERST trustee, detail to follow.
