Sustainability Superstar
2021 AWARD FINALIST
Sponsored by NZI
Kayleigh Appleton is Wastewise Coordinator at the Waiheke Resources Trust. Over three years, she has driven a number of projects that support zero waste and provide zero waste education.
Kayleigh runs free community workshops at the Waiheke Sustainability Centre, teaching home composting. Working in partnership with Waiheke Island’s primary and high schools, Waiheke Library and other community groups, Kayleigh tailors composting and kai conscious workshops to their needs. She teaches meal planning and how to repurpose leftovers alongside general food waste reduction techniques. Projects she is involved with have reached 72,676 people.
Kayleigh is hands-on, also working at Waiheke Resources Trust’s Compost Co, collecting compostables and food scraps from Waiheke businesses and processing them at a hot composting site. One day a week, she can be found weeding and planting native trees on Waiheke’s recovering wetlands. All of Kayleigh’s work with Waiheke Resources Trust and beyond focuses on creating more circular systems, minimising waste and restoring natural resources.