For central Aucklanders who have been putting off dropping off their unwanted items at a community recycling centre (CRC) because they’re too busy to drive across town, it’s time for a big sort out because you now have a local option. Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre at 990 Great North Road in Western Springs is open and ready to welcome you.
Situated just down the road from Auckland Zoo and a stone’s throw away from Te Wai Ōrea Park / Western Springs Lakeside, many Aucklanders will be familiar with the rock gatehouse that stands at the entrance to the site.
The gatehouse and clubrooms were built in 1939 and were originally part of the Chamberlain Golf Club. This was before the Northwestern Motorway went through and cut off access (you can see the golf course just across the motorway).
After spending the last 20 years as the Auckland Horticultural Council clubrooms, the building and site has now undergone a makeover to transform it into a recycling centre where you can drop off recyclables such as glass, paper, alkaline batteries and cardboard for a small fee (read more on that here) or donate items, such as books, clothing and cookware, to the shop in the renovated building basement (pro tip: if you often feel overwhelmed by the quantity of items when bargain hunting in op shops, this space has carefully curated displays that are a pleasure to browse)
The shop at the recycling centre accepts clothes, toys, books, fabric, furniture and other items that are in good and working condition.
The CRC offers more than recycling though. The upper level of the building is a dedicated community space.
“You can bring your recycling, then you can come upstairs and take part in various community activations from repair cafes to e-waste drop-off days, to learning how to knit, sew and mend, or upcycle furniture.” says Kathryn Lawlor, CEO of MPHS Community Trust, the community development organisation that runs the CRC for Auckland Council.
Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre manager Christine Wang (left) and MPHS CEO Kathryn Lawlor had local schools and early childhood centres create a mural for the facility using upcycled materials.
Kathryn says that various environmental groups, such as conservation organisation Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao, will also be using the space to have their hui (meetings), providing opportunities for the public to pick up traps or learn about planting.
The CRC also has plans underway to collaborate with nearby Te Māhurehure Marae and hold weaving workshops and grow a pā harakeke (a collection of different flax species) onsite.
“Once we’re sustainable, then any funds that are generated go back into running free hui here for the community,” says Kathryn.
At Waitākere Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station by Tipping Point (another zero-waste project managed by MPHS) a big focus is to invest in rangatahi (youth) in the local community. This is done by Tipping Point generating income which goes back to support rangatahi programmes in the community.
So far 21 local schools and early childhood centres have contributed to the community space at Waiōrea CRC by helping create a large mural. Centre manager Christine Wang supplied them with wooden panels salvaged during the building’s renovation and asked them to create a collage of Te Wai Ōrea / Western Springs lake across the road using upcycled materials.
The upcycled mural at Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre features iconic local spots such as the Rainbow Path beside Unitec.
Over time, the plan is to fill a whole wall with panels decorated by different educational institutions.
But whether you live locally or not, Kathryn says that the centre is for everyone.
"A lot of people are coming here for a bargain, some will be coming because they’re very passionate about sustainability. We hope that it’s an inclusive space for education and also just to have those conversations. We don’t have all the answers but we think that everyone’s small contribution can make a change.”
