Trash to treasure at recycle centre

Volunteer Bobbyjo Thomson at the Re-use Academy. PHOTO / STUART MUNRO

Nothing gets thrown out at the Re-use Academy.

Bike parts, cardboard, empty courier envelopes, unused fabric, shopping bags - all find new homes and new purposes at the Re-use Academy, located at the Resource Recovery Centre and run by Sustainable Whanganui.

Melinda Hatherly from Sustainable Whanganui said members of the public can come in and, for a donation, pick up items to reuse or, also for a donation, drop unwanted items off to be reused by someone else. "We only want people to give what they can afford."

As an example of how items can be reused, Ms Hatherly shows a large sunflower that has been made from old placemats, cardboard and pieces of courier bags. Ms Hatherly said even the building the Re-use Academy is housed in has been repurposed.

"This building was part of the old prison, so there's a lot of history here - but it wasn't built for comfort."

Eight rooms - former prison cells - are dedicated to eight different types of materials. There is the Green Bikes workshop, where old bikes go to be remade into new bikes.

Then there are rooms dedicated to glass jars, plastics, fabrics, craft materials and knick-knacks.

Ms Hatherly said the "jar bar" - for reused glass jars - was particularly popular.

"At this time of year we have a glut of them because everyone's done their processing. But soon we won't have enough of them once people start harvesting."

Ms Hatherly said it was remarkable what sometimes turned up at the Re-use Academy.

"We get some real treasures here. And people can be so creative, they take what seems to be junk and turn it into something beautiful."

The Re-Use Academy is located behind the Whanganui Resource Recovery Centre in Maria Place extension.