Otago Polytechnic to host inaugural Waste Jam

Dunedin’s very first “Waste Jam” will be held this weekend at Otago Polytechnic.

About 60 people will attend the two-day event at Otago Polytechnic’s Hub on Saturday and Sunday.

The event aims to tackle issues around waste, as well as encourage people to seek funding for initiatives.

“The Dunedin City Council allocates up to $40,000 per year for innovation and development in minimising waste,” Audacious student programme manager Rachel Butler says.

“Collaborative projects are encouraged and it's clear this fund has the potential to create significant change in our city. Unfortunately, it receives very few applications. We hope to change that.”

One of the facilitators for the event, Ray O'Brien, a Learning and Teaching Specialist at Otago Polytechnic, describes waste as “one of the great challenges of our time”.

“No council, government or organisation is equipped to deal with it effectively on their. We all need to do our bit,” says Mr O’Brien, an academic facilitator for Otago Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Leadership for Change programme.

“A space to nurture new ideas, innovation and solutions”, Waste Jam involves two-person teams working to create solutions to minimise waste, which they will submit to council for funding.

By bringing a selection of individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, ages and industries for 48-hours, Waste Jam aims to rapidly explore ideas, projects, initiatives, and events that encourage, promote, or administer waste minimisation activities. 

The event features a “human library”, comprising 20 experts from a range of industry fields (marketing, council policy, construction waste), who will provide guidance. Teams can book an expert for 15 minutes before they need to be returned to the library. 

Throughout the event there will also be short talks from “Lightning speakers” who work in innovation in waste.

These include: Sue Bidrose (CEO Dunedin City Council), Rachel Barker (CEO Plastics NZ), Deborah Manning (CEO Kiwiharvest), Finn Boyle (Project lead on Otago Polytechnic's new Organic Waste Resource Recovery Hub), Hilary Phipps (Head of Sustainability, University of Otago), Jim O'Malley (Dunedin City Councillor and deputy chair of the Infrastructure Committee), Nic McEwan (Managing Director McEwen Haulage).

Waste Jam details:

July 6-7, 9am-5.30pm Otago Polytechnic Hub

Facilitators: Ray O'Brien (academic facilitator for Otago Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Leadership for Change) and Alice Marsh (Co-founder of The Social Experiment).