You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Ambassador Ivan
<- Homepage: Waste not Wasted: The science of waste at Kate Valley
Kia ora!
I am Ivan from Oteha Valley School. I'm a kind, brave gorilla that stands up for my friends. I am an artist and I especially love drawing with mud!
I am excited to take a trip to Canterbury to learn more about the waste at Kate Valley. My class has been fascinated with waste (especially the plastic kind!) this year so I can't wait to help them learn more about how the waste isn't wasted.
Talk soon,
Ivan
Monday 4 November
Kia ora everyone
Today we travelled all the way from Andrew’s place in Kerikeri to a place called Amberley. This is where we will be based for the next few days while we explore Kate Valley. We went on two planes today - one from Kerikeri to Auckland and the other from Auckland to Christchurch. Then we drove from Christchurch to Amberley. It has been a big day for me, so you can understand why I might be a little weary!
Talk tomorrow,
Ivan
Tuesday 5 November
Kia ora everyone
Today we got to ride in one of the big trucks that bring all the waste to the landfill. Andrew had to help us ambassadors into the truck, though, because it was quite high up from the ground! Inside the cab we all sat on a bed that sits behind the driver. I guess there is a bed there so if the driver gets tired, he can have a little nap. The truck has a crane on the back that can lift the bins full of rubbish and offload them at the landfill. They are known as "hooklift" cranes. I also learned that each of the CWS truck and trailers drive about 120,000 kilometres per year. Rangi said that’s 5 to 6 times what a normal car does each year.
Talk tomorrow,
Ivan
Wednesday 6 November
Kia ora everyone
Today we saw lots of waste, which isn’t surprising because we are in a landfill! We met a guy they call Scruff. Scruff does something called an audit. He basically looks at the waste to see what types of materials are being brought into the landfill. The audit can give the team a basic idea of how much waste is organic. Organic waste decomposes and makes landfill gas, so they can get an idea of how much landfill gas there might be in the future. I am having a fun time on the field trip.
Talk tomorrow,
Ivan
Thursday 7 November
Kia ora everyone
I have had so much fun this week hanging out with Andrew, the other ambassadors and the experts and learning all about the Kate Valley Landfill. I hope you have enjoyed yourselves as much as I have. I must say I am looking forward to coming back home though and having a bit of a rest. It sure has been a busy and tiring week!
In the photo you can see me near part of the gas facility that takes water out of the landfill gas. This is so it can used by the generators. Today we learned how the team at Kate Valley Landfill capture the landfill gas and use it to make electricity. It has been another cool day.
Looking forward to coming back to school next week!
Ivan
Ivan is a kind, brave gorilla that stands up for his friends. Image: Supplied.
Monday. Ivan is tired from the big journey so it's an early night for him! Image: Andrew Penny, LEARNZ.
Tuesday. Ivan is next to a CWS truck-and-trailer unit. Image: Andrew Penny, LEARNZ.
Wednesday. Ivan is next to a pile of recently offloaded waste ready for audit. Image: Andrew Penny, LEARNZ.
Thursday. Ivan is near part of the facility that takes water out of the landfill gas. This is so the gas can be used by the generators to make electricity. Image: Andrew Penny, LEARNZ.