Queenstown's film industry has called cut on production waste ending up in landfill.
Film Queenstown Lakes, the in-council film office for the district, has launched a directory of businesses and organisations offering sustainable solutions to waste.
Titled And, cut…!, the directory was put together with the help of local film industry representatives to encourage movie, television and commercial productions operating in the district to minimise their rubbish.
Recommending sustainable options for catering materials and greener methods of chucking batteries and timber, the directory also homes in on film-specific waste with suggestions for getting rid of paints, cars, props and fabrics.
Queenstown Lakes District Council’s waste minimisation project officer Kath Buttar said the directory adopted a waste hierarchy approach, where disposing of waste in landfill was the last resort and repurposing items was prioritised.
"To achieve our goal of becoming a zero waste and sustainable district, we all need to significantly reduce our levels of consumption and transition from the linear thinking of ‘take-make-waste’ to a circular economy model where materials are kept in effective and efficient use for as long as possible and do not harm the environment."
Utilising local film crew and suppliers was also recommended as a way of keeping equipment and materials in local circulation and out of the dumpster.
Film office co-ordinator Kahli Scott hoped the directory would help the industry protect the "beautiful environment" it shares on screen and kickstart a conversation about sustainable film production.
"Waste is just one part of the bigger picture.
"We're open to ideas about how we as a regional film office can help support and champion other initiatives around environmental sustainability in the film industry and encourage anyone with an interest in this area to get in touch."
