Eco Educate has joined forces with the Waimakariri District Council to give some tips on the correct items to put into each kerbside wheelie bin. The full bin service was rolled out by the council earlier this year.
The council added the options of red bins for rubbish and green bins for organics, alongside the yellow recycling bins for those eligible for kerbside collection.
But Eco Educate rethink educator Lesley Ottey says there is some confusion about what can go in each bin.
''We will be there to answer all the weird, wonderful, wacky and quirky questions and helping people to understand why the bins need to be clean and items placed in the correct bin,'' she says.
''There is a difference between what can go into each bin and we can see that people are struggling to get it right.''
She says there will be giveaways and people who live in the Waimakariri district can go into the draw to win a free green organics bin.
''The good thing is, if you are a renter, you will be able to take the bin with you if you move.
''That's one of the things we are hearing: 'my landlord didn't get us one'.''
Lesley encourages residents to ''come over and say hi'', and she is keen to hear stories from people making an effort to minimise waste.
''People could do their bit by taking their reusable cup or reusable water bottle to the show and if you do, come and show it to me.
''We are there to interact with people and it's lovely to interact with people in a positive way, and it's good to know some people are doing the right thing,'' she says.
''The big picture is huge and too hard for people to comprehend, but we can all look at the little bits we can do to make a difference.''
Lesley says the best reusable lunch box is an ice cream container, ''because you have to eat the ice cream first''.
The council has run a successful ''Love Food Hate Waste'' campaign in recent years alongside other councils and the Easy Choice Family Kai recipe booklets have proved popular.
The booklets can still be downloaded from the council website or at lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/easy-choice-meal-planner/.
''It's aimed at reducing food waste, which is pretty horrific in New Zealand, but it also helps families to save money,'' she says.
''There is a lack of respect for food because it's too easy to buy and too easy to get rid of.''
People with surplus food can connect with Waste Feed North Canterbury on Facebook so it can be passed on ''to animals that need it''.
