Sunshine Yates Consulting

Reimagining material use for a sustainable future

Industry Experts

Trust in our 20+ years of experience in the resource recovery and waste sector

Future Focused

Your long term goals are achievable, starting today. We’re committed to challenging the way resources are used on our finite planet

Practical Solutions

Expect a pragmatic approach to your big sustainability questions. We’ll help you design the research or systems you need to minimise resource use

Working together
towards a bright, bold,
regenerative world

We undertake waste audits, waste and recycling research, litter studies, behaviour change research and more, across Aotearoa.

We are a small consultancy with a hands-on approach and loads of experience in waste minimisation and resource efficiency.

We partner with government departments, local authorities, businesses and non-profits to find solutions to reduce waste. Our partnership approach means we work with you to complete thorough research and co-create purpose-built systems that will positively impact your organisation and the world.

What we do

Waste audits and design of recycling systems

We complete audits for government departments, hospitals, educational institutions and businesses large and small.

Solid Waste Analysis Protocol (SWAP) audits of domestic kerbside refuse

Conducting SWAP audits for local authorities from Kaitaia to Bluff since 1999.

Waste research projects for local authorities and businesses

Including audits of various waste streams; recycling contamination audits; food scraps contamination audits; participation surveys; market share surveys, bale audits etc.

Litter research projects

We've completed litter research projects for organisations including for Be A Tidy Kiwi, Keep New Zealand Beautiful, Glass Packaging Forum, Auckland Council.

Waste Minimisation & Operational Waste Management Plans

Plans have been developed for businesses and government organisations, including Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and NIWA.

Public speaking and training

We've presented at conferences, board meetings, and training events, providing interesting, engaging and accessible information on waste, recycling and material use.

Meet Sunshine

Sunshine is passionate about questioning the status quo, exploring new opportunities, implementing new systems, and educating stakeholders. Since starting in the waste and recycling sector in 1999, Sunshine has combined her practical experience in the waste industry with her communication, research, writing, analytical and presentation skills to provide consistent quality and informative results.

- Solid Waste Analysis Protocol (SWAP) audits for Auckland, Waipa, Waimate, Waikato, Far North, and Hutt City councils (2022/2024)
- Waste audits for FENZ, Arvida, Bupa, Eke Panuku, Auckland Zoo, Meridian Energy, NZTE, University of Auckland (2022/2024)
- Review of waste and recycling systems for Auckland Zoo (2024)
- Developed Waste Minimisation and Management Guidelines for Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (2023)
- Completed research into use of FOGO bins in the South Island (2024) and Research into barriers to use of food scraps collections (2022/2023), for Ministry for the Environment
- Contracted by Countdown (Woolworths NZ) to assist in designing instore waste minimisation systems (2023)
- Drafted operational waste management plans (OWMP) for Green Star Design and As-Built for three governmental organisations (2022/2024)
- Led consultation on the National Waste Data Framework update, for the Ministry for the Environment and WasteMINZ (2022)
- Assisted with the National Resource Recovery – Infrastructure and Services Stocktake and Gap Analysis for the Ministry for the Environment (2020-2021)
- Prepared a Waikato and Bay of Plenty Region Waste and Recycling Stocktake (2021)
- Contracted by Waikato Regional Council to prepare a report entitled The Journey Towards a Circular Economy in the Waikato Region in the Waikato Region (2021)
- Co-authored Standardising Kerbside Collections in Aotearoa project for WasteMINZ and the Ministry for the Environment (2020)
- Author of the Rethinking Rubbish and Recycling report commissioned by the WasteMINZ TA Forum (2019)
- Generated the first NZ study on household food waste, as part of a national Love Food Hate Waste project for WasteMINZ in 2014-2015 and again in 2018. This project has since been cited by the UNEP as providing ‘high confidence’ food waste estimates for New Zealand.
- Sustainability advisor to Waitemata District Health Board (2017-2019)

Recent Clients

Ministry for the Environment + WasteMINZ + New Zealand Trade and Enterprise + Keep New Zealand Beautiful + Meridian Energy + Z Energy + Watercare Services + Kiwi Income Property Trust + NZ Post + FENZ + NIWA + Auckland Zoo + Auckland International Airport + McDonald’s Restaurants + Skycity Entertainment Group + Arvida + Aurecon + Civil Share + Tātaki Auckland Unlimited + Eke Panuku + AUT + Te Wānanga o Aotearoa + Waitemata District Health Board + Hawke’s Bay District Health Board + Southern Cross + Trusts Arena + New Zealand Aids Foundation + EcoStock + Junk Run + Visy Recycling + Fonterra + Zespri + Constellation Brands + Tetra Pak NZ + Plantation Island (Fiji) + Many local and regional authorities across Aotearoa

Dream it

Ministry for the Environment + WasteMINZ + New Zealand Trade and Enterprise + Keep New Zealand Beautiful + Meridian Energy + Z Energy + Watercare Services + Kiwi Income Property Trust + NZ Post + FENZ + NIWA + Auckland Zoo + Auckland International Airport + McDonald’s Restaurants + Skycity Entertainment Group + Arvida + Aurecon + Civil Share + Tātaki Auckland Unlimited + Eke Panuku + AUT + Te Wānanga o Aotearoa + Waitemata District Health Board + Hawke’s Bay District Health Board + Southern Cross + Trusts Arena + New Zealand Aids Foundation + EcoStock + Junk Run + Visy Recycling + Fonterra + Zespri + Constellation Brands + Tetra Pak NZ + Plantation Island (Fiji) + Many local and regional authorities across Aotearoa Dream it

Testimonials

Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand contracted SYC to undertake a waste to landfill audit at a range of facilities located across the Auckland region. Sunshine and her team helped us to develop our methodology, and worked closely with us throughout the commission to deliver results and advice that will inform our waste management strategy. It was a pleasure to work with Sunshine who brings fantastic experience and expertise, and a rock solid understanding of the national waste management landscape.
Johnny Wright – Sustainability Lead
WasteMINZ

Sunshine conducted a ground breaking piece of research into food waste that provided a strong foundation for the implementation for the award winning Love Food Hate Waste Campaign. Sunshine has excellent analytical and statistical skills and was able to provide useful insights as to how we could adapt overseas methodology to the New Zealand context. She went above and beyond during the project and was willing to provide support long after the final project was completed.
Jenny Marshall, Sector Projects Manager
Waitemata DHB

Sunshine and the team assisted Waitemata DHB to examine the healthcare waste generated and provide information/education to improve our practices to reduce hazardous and non-hazardous waste to landfill and increase recycling of non-traditional items.
Michelle Dawson, Sustainability Manager
Civil Share

Sunshine has been a great advocate for us and helped deliver a developed and succinct submission for Civil Share to get funding available through Auckland Council Waste Minimisation Fund. This funding was quintessential to enable our company to push through the challenging start-up period and start to develop market growth. Thank you for all your advice and assistance!
Sylvie Burke, Business Manager
NZ Post

NZ Post contracted Sunshine to undertake waste audits at four of our large operational sites, to provide us with baseline compositional data on our waste streams, and to identify opportunities for further waste minimisation. Sunshine collaborated well with site managers to run the waste audits. The waste audit reports were informative and contained practical recommendations for improvements, which we are now implementing with the assistance of Sunshine.
Sam Bridgman
Meridian Energy

Since 2006, Meridian has contracted Sunshine to undertake a number of waste and recycling projects, assisting to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of our internal recycling systems in Auckland, Christchurch and Twizel. Sunshine has always brought us valuable insights - both in terms of the technicalities of waste, but also the human element and how to encourage people to improve their practices. We love working with her, and highly recommend her work. She knows a lot about waste, and is a pleasure to work with.
Alison Howard
Bupa Villages & Aged Care

I would readily recommend Sunshine Yates Consulting for any size or scope of waste audit. Sunshine and her team were efficient, cost-effective, and very easy to deal with. The team completed the audits promptly, adhering to the agreed-upon timeframe with minimal disruption to our daily operations. Sunshine was also readily available to answer questions and adjusted the audit plan to accommodate an opportunity to undertake a snapshot of clinical waste on one of our sites - a real value-add to the outcomes. The audit results have helped us identify significant areas for waste reduction and recycling improvement, leading to potential cost savings in the long run.
Julia Lindesay, Senior Sustainability Manager

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Say hello

Curious to know how our services can benefit your business?
Get in touch for a chat

021 268 2957

email Sunshine