Every proud parent knows one-year-olds can be hard work – but for Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre’s team of staff and volunteers, every ounce of mahi from day zero to its first birthday has proven to be worth it.
Since opening in August 2023, the centre has diverted more than 110 tonnes of materials from landfill, hosted nearly 50 events with more than 1000 visitors. Additionally, on average about 200 customers a day visit the recycling shop.
Albert-Eden Local Board chair Kendyl Smith is pleased with the recycling centre’s results in the past year.
“Waiōrea has made the circular economy become cool – upcycling and picking up vintage treasures can be a necessity that everyone gets into and feels good about,” she says.
“We’ve loved seeing how Waiōrea has thrived in our community. A huge congratulations to Christine Wang from MPHS Community Trust and the team for doing an excellent job to get the place up and running and making it such an inviting space.”
Within a year of opening its doors, Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre has become more than just a recycling facility where people drop off unwanted goods, it’s also where superhero dreams are envisioned.
A Waiōrea team member recalls a little shopper scoring a pre-loved picture of Spider-Man, vowing to one day be the next Marvel spider-like comic character.
The facility has flourished into a warm and friendly hub where connections are built and community is the beating heart of its operations.
“Central Auckland has needed a local recycling centre for a long time and many key industry influencers and elected members, particularly those before me, have fiercely advocated for this initiative. The result has been well worth everyone’s efforts,” the chair says.
“The centre has been a huge leap of progress and has really embodied the local board’s climate and environmental goals, helping individuals, households, neighbourhoods, businesses and communities adopt climate-friendly practices and transition to low carbon, sustainable lifestyles.”
Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre recently reinforced this initiative by hosting a two-week Zero Waste Festival consisting of over 25 events to encourage waste reduction and celebrate its birthday.
Team leader Christine Wang is grateful for local board support and extremely proud of her team.
“One of my many highlights at Waiōrea is the Albert-Eden Zero Waste Festival. It’s a privilege to be supported by the local board, Auckland Council and MPHS to run this festival and provide a wide range of events and activities for the community to promote zero waste and sustainability,” she says.
“During the festival, we welcomed more than 600 members of the community at Waiōrea and it’s been so inspiring and empowering for our team!
“Additionally, our partnership with Te Mahurehure Marae has been a significant highlight, particularly in our shared commitment to Zero Waste. Being part of the Marae's Wellbeing Expo, where we truly embodied our guiding whakatauki: Whiria te tāngata, whiria te taiao, kia puāwai ai te ora o te ao (Weave the people, weave the environment, so that the world may flourish),” says Wang.
“We only just turned one, so there’ll be so many more years to celebrate community coming together and embracing the concept of reduce, reuse and recycle.”
Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre is located at 990 Great North Road, Western Springs – opening hours are Thursday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm.
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