John Rapson dismantles an oven at Grumpy Old Men Enterprises.
John Rapson dismantles an oven at Grumpy Old Men Enterprises.
Electrical appliances, toys, drinking glasses and books are not wanted at Sustainable Whanganui. "We can't take everything people don't want because we have limited space," says Whebster Lyn Pearson. "We want things others can repurpose for art and hobbies. "There are other places in Whanganui which accept things we don't. "We have along list in the office. Just ask the Whebster volunteer on duty about a place for your unwanted items. For example books can be taken to the Red Cross bookshop and toys and glasses to Hospice shops."
Grumpy Old Men Enterprises (GOME) takes some electrical appliances such as ovens, television sets, DVD players, stereos, computers, microwaves, lawnmowers and dishwashers; the older the better (less plastic). GOME is a community group which operates Monday to Friday, between 9am and 3pm from 28 Hinau St, Castlecliff.
GOME trustee Jim O'Neill said their volunteers 'remove everything except the plastic'. They have 200 litre drums in which to put the various useful components — steel, brass, copper, aluminium (three grades). At least two ute loads of separated metals are sold to Molten Metals each week. The funds generated go to local schools. GOME will do pick-ups for $5. "We have working relationships with businesses all round town," says Jim. "There's so much scrap metal that's recoverable." They collect from the Salvation Army and Hospice each week. Computer parts from both GOME and WRRC go to IT Recyclers in Wellington or Upper Hutt regularly. Whanganui Resource Recovery Centre (WRRC) also has a scrap metal bin.
