Auckland Council's Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) are coming to the fore helping residents of Tāmaki Makaurau after the recent flooding.
In their usual day-to-day operation, the CRCs offer a drop-off point for unwanted items, reusing and repurposing them and stopping them going to landfill. At the moment though, our CRCs are providing a valuable resource of bedding, furniture and household items for flood-affected residents.
General Manager Waste Solutions Parul Sood says, “The CRCs have been working with their local communities and providing furniture, bedding, household items, and clothing, and also collecting and receiving flood-damaged waste for free.
“We really appreciate all the items that have already been donated and the CRCs are more than happy to accept more.”
Manurewa CRC is operated by the Beautification Trust and CEO Daniel Barthow says, “The CRCs are providing a much-needed supply of furniture, clothing and bedding to people in need as well as a place for a cup of coffee and a chat. The team is also out dropping off goods to people’s houses.”
The CRC has also been supplying food and is offering tools such as wheelbarrows and spades from their tool library for free to help people clean up.
The Onehunga CRC – operated by Onehunga Zero Waste - has had a number of requests from residents for assistance and is working with Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board to provide a combined approach.
CRC Manager Donna Muavae says, “The team is very well connected within the Onehunga area and via social media are encouraging people to drop off items, especially mattresses and clean bedding. These are then distributed by the team using their van.
“In addition, it was felt the best way to support residents was to work with other organisations and agencies and open up the CRC as a Community Support Hub.
“The team is welcoming residents over a coffee and working out what help is needed. For the CRC this has included a walk around the shop providing furniture, clothing, utensils etc free of charge to those in need.”
In addition to this, a warehouse at North-West Zero Waste Hub in Wairau Valley has been accepting donations of furniture, bedding, clothing and household items and distributing them.
And Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub in Glenn Innes is working with Waste Management NZ to receive flood-damaged whiteware, scrap metal, and e-waste to ensure it is recycled and properly disposed of instead of going to landfill.
The fridges/freezers are being de-gassed ensuring harmful greenhouse gases are removed before recycling them. E-waste is being sent for dismantling and recycling to Abilities Group which supports the employment of people with learning disabilities.
See the full list of 11 CRCs in Tāmaki Makaurau online here.
