The Good Drop.
About 180,000 tonnes of clothing and textile waste are sent to landfill by New Zealanders every year – almost half of all textiles brought into the country.
Much of that waste could be reused or recycled instead of ending up in the ground.
Now, Whangārei is one of the first communities to be involved in The Good Drop, a new pilot programme between The Warehouse Group and the Salvation Army that is designed to give old clothes a second life.
The Whangārei Warehouse store is one of five where the pilot is being rolled out. The others are Takanini, Hillcrest, Petone and Barrington.
Customers can drop off clean, pre-loved clothing – from any brand – in specially marked bins.
Clothing that’s still in good condition will be passed on to The Salvation Army’s Family Stores, where it can be resold to support local community services.
Items that can’t be reused will be recycled into products such as signage, packaging, protection mats and even acoustic panels.
Nick Garforth, area manager for Salvation Army Family Stores, said the system is designed to keep donations local.
“The product that comes in is processed through the local Whangārei [Warehouse] store, sold in the Whangārei [family] store, and the money generated goes to local mission funding.
“Ultimately, it will help this community – and there’s absolutely no doubt about that.”
The pilot has been running for about three weeks and Garforth said early signs are positive.
“We’re seeing some good numbers coming through. It’s not breaking the bank, but people are engaging with the project and donating at the Whangārei Warehouse,” he said.
“There’s no reason it won’t continue to be a success.”
Asked if he was concerned about donation volumes overwhelming stores, Garforth said: “We have very robust processing systems in place to take care of large volumes. We never close for donations.”
To encourage people to take part, The Warehouse is offering a reward through its Market Club loyalty programme. Anyone who donates clothing will receive a voucher for 10% off clothing purchases over $30, either in-store or online.
Every kilo of clothing collected will be tracked and reported, so customers can see the real impact of their donations.
Phil Cumming, general manager of sustainability and ethical sourcing at The Warehouse Group, says the initiative is part of the company’s wider push to make sustainable living easier and more accessible.
The Good Drop adds to The Warehouse Group’s existing in-store recycling options, which currently include electronics, soft plastics, mobile phones and ink cartridges.
“The trial is about testing how incentives can help encourage long-term recycling behaviours,” Caroline Dewstow, sustainability partner at The Warehouse Group, said.
Dewstow said The Warehouse had worked with the Salvation Army for many years and knew the power of their national scale and positive impact in local communities. It was a “no-brainer” for the pair to partner on this initiative.
Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, most of which she spent reporting on the courts in Gisborne and the East Coast.