I went along to the launch of the Love NZ Recycling Scheme at the Wellington YHA yesterday morning.  This involves the installation of recycling facilities in tourist hotspots.  The Wellington YHA is the first business to install the facilities, and it is hoped to be rolled out around hostels around the country. The scheme is part of the government’s Recycling in Public Places Initative, that will see 600 bins put in public places by 2010.  Wellingtonians might have seen the distincitve green bins in Midland Park, which are part of this scheme.

This is a great initiative.   There is a lot of work going on in the tourism industry to develop New Zealand’s reputation as a sustainable tourism destination.  This is vital when there are increasing concerns about the environmental impact of long distance travel.  At the launch I was talking with some tourism industry folk about how the 2011 Rugby World Cup offers a great opportunity for NZ to promote both a sustainable major world sporting tournament and our own sustainability at the same time.  Hopefully the IRB will play ball on that.