Forget heading to the library for a do-it-yourself book, in Waiuku soon you’ll be able to check out a jackhammer, a chainsaw, a few planes, a handsaw and the level you’ll need too.
Only you’ll be at the Tool Library, the latest initiative from the Waiuku & District Community Workshop Trust.
The trust has picked up a $20,000 Auckland Council Waste Programme grant to establish the library in the workshop space of the Waiuku Zero Waste building in Hosking Place.
The money will allow the team to repair and reuse many of the tools that come through the resource recovery centre, and to share those resources with the community.
Waiuku Zero Waste’s Sue Wallis says the idea was formed when team members recovered usable tools that would have found their way into landfill.
“We hope we can get to a stage when people who need a weed-eater or some power tools for the weekend come to the tool library rather than buying them and then leaving them idle on a shelf in the garage.”
Derek Robbins can’t wait to get amongst it. He’s already got a selection of tools, some recovered, some donated and others purchased, but says there’s a bit of work to do yet before the library can get up and running.
"The first thing we are going to do is put out a call for tools. We know loads of people have all sorts of things they never use or don’t want any more, that other people could still use. We’ll obviously need to build up a collection of gear."
There's already a former sparky on board to check the safety of power tools, and staff are already tag-test certified. Derek and Sue are confident it won’t be long before they have a team of volunteers to keep things in good working order.
Franklin Local Board member Sharleen Druyven thinks it’s a great idea.
"We are lucky to have the Waiuku Zero Waste team because they do great things in recovering stuff that would just have gone into landfill, and the success they’ve made of their site means I have every confidence they’ll pull off a tool library too."
The group’s store, the Waiuku Junktion, is at the recycling centre, and residents are welcome to bring unwanted tools and other goods in, where they’ll be sorted. About three-quarters of everything that comes through is recovered.
Residents would need to buy an annual low-priced membership for the library.
“We are still working out details, but if we are given donations of larger items, the donor would be given a complimentary membership,” Derek says.
Anyone interested in helping with the project can email contact@waiukuzerowaste.co.nz or ring the centre on 09 235 8413.
