Sustainable solutions: It’s all a bit of give and take

Above: The main area of the Resource Centre has a wide range of materials

Below: A customer checking out the fabric section of the Resource Centre.

The West Auckland Resource Centre, located in a green shed at the New Lynn end of Seabrook Avenue, New Lynn, is another of our lesser known local resource gems.

The centre started operation in 1977 when a visionary lady, Marion Bennett, witnessed various useful items being dumped at the Refuse Station.

Marion invited preschool managers to a meeting and a committee was formed, with the aim of forming a non-profit organisation to provide cheap resources for money-strapped early education facilities. Anne Welch, the centre’s treasurer in earlier days (and still involved in the West Auckland Resource Centre Trust) remembers the many bags of donated coins including 1, 2 and 5 cent pieces, dropped off in her letterbox by the duty person.

Today, the centre caters for all community groups. In addition to schools and preschools, customers include church groups, art and craft groups as well as college and university students. In the last financial year 64 preschools, 63 schools, 15 art and craft groups and 16 community groups visited, with the most frequent customer being Blockhouse Bay Primary who visited 34 times.

Countdown to trial paper packaging

Over the next few months Countdown is trialling paper bags and cardboard boxes in the produce section.

Customers can choose to use the paper options provided, bring their own bags or add their produce loose into the trolley. The trials, in the Orewa, Ponsonby and Manukau stores, will determine the store’s use of plastic in the future.

A few products such as bagged lettuce and herbs would remain in plastic but where possible the plastic packaging would be recyclable PET or recycled rPET. Countdown wants to ensure that any changes they make are right for the future, and don’t cause larger issues down the track, like an increase in food waste and impacts on staff and suppliers.

The Ponsonby Countdown manager Paul Maxwell said the initiative required behaviour change but he was heartened by the positive reaction he had already witnessed in store, and how his customers were quickly adapting to the change. However, it is worth noting that UK research suggests that paper bags need to be reused three times to have less of an environmental impact than a conventional plastic bag – storing paper packaging for reuse (as many of us do for plastic bags) will be required. Perhaps we should bring our own reusable produce bags. Plastic or paper packaging? The range of items is extensive with a focus on creativity. Regular items include paper, cork, fabric and wooden blocks but there is always something new and exciting turning up. One room is a treasure trove full of paper and other tactile items with another small room full of fabric samples and swatches. My advice is to walk around several times so as not to miss what’s there.

For a donation of $10 per visit, customers can take away a pile of resources (within reason), although popular items have a limit on them. For small amounts, a lesser koha will be acceptable but for profit-making early childhood centres, $20 is charged.

I went to visit on a Saturday when there were about 10 other visitors. I came out with some samples of polystyrene, melteca swatches and cork to show our technology teachers at Green Bay High, some clear adhesive covering, ballpoint pens, a bag of plastic bottle caps, as well as a large bag of grout, a drawing board, two sets of bag handles and various little bits and bobs. Way more than my money’s worth for sure.

Although the centre presently has about 20 suppliers, it is hungry for more resources. If you are a company that has waste product that could be used creatively, think about gifting it to the centre. It’s a win-win, you don’t have to pay to dispose of your waste, and it could become a useful resource for someone.

The centre has a van so has the capacity to collect large amounts from potential suppliers/businesses. However, the van is on its last legs and the Trust is hoping to gain funding to purchase a newer one. If anyone can help with that, please get in touch with Anne.

If you work in a creative capacity and you haven’t already checked out the resource centre, make a visit and you might become another regular customer. And if you are interested in volunteering at this creative hub, the centre is always on the look out for new helpers to add to their 12 current volunteers.

The West Auckland Resource Centre is at 2B Seabrook Avenue, New Lynn. It is open on Wednesdays, 12-2pm and Saturdays, 10am-12.30pm. Phone Anne Welch on 021 579 081, email warctrust@gmail.com or visit https://www.westaucklandresourcecentre.org.nz