Te Awamutu Sharing Shed used as dump for rubbish, junk

Te Awamutu's Barbara Linton holds up a ripped poster, one of the items recently donated to The Sharing Shed; a diary from 2007 was also dumped at the shed. Photo / Bethany Rolston

The Sharing Shed was built last year with the goal of bringing Te Awamutu residents together through sharing produce, preserves and books.

But a year and a half later people still haven't quite cottoned on.

Te Awamutu woman Barbara Linton, who looks after the shed, says the mini-hub has turned into a dumping ground.

Barbara and other volunteers — a group called Friends of The Sharing Shed — took over the reins when shed founders Shaun and Sarah O'Dea moved to Canada this year.

Friends of The Sharing Shed volunteers regularly check the shed for unwanted items.

They sort through fruit and vegetables, remove magazines to be recycled and donate clothing, toys and other items to op shops.

Broken, old or unwanted items are taken to the dump, which can be costly.

Barbara is sick and tired of people treating the shed, which sits at Anzac Green, like a rubbish dump.

Some items left at the shed last week included ripped movie posters, a used diary from 2007 and a dirty gas cooker.

Barbara says one of the posters, supernatural horror film Drag Me to Hell was offensive and could be harmful to children.

"The poster had nothing to do with love, sharing and caring — what The Sharing Shed is all about," she says.

Barbara reminded Te Awamutu residents that the shed is designed only for donations of fresh fruit and vegetables, baking and recipes, preserves, non-perishable edibles like tinned goods and sealed packets and books.

People can also pin advertisements to the notice board, but the ads must be no larger than 10cm by 15cm and are removed every three weeks to make space for new ones. Barbara says it's a shame to see the shed used as a dump, and doesn't want the actions of a few people to ruin the idea.

"We're going to work hard and keep the shed clean and tidy. It's a valuable community asset and we have no plans to get rid of it anytime soon. Thank you to all the people of good will who have, and are contributing to this worthwhile cause."