Recycle plea goes out to local firms

COLLECTING: Wairarapa Resource Centre trainer Te Ariki (left) and trainee Sandrina Holl, with the bin full of donated goods from Masterton District Council staff in the first collection for the Ready, Set, Recycle programme launched last week. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Pre-loved books, clothing, a new barbecue set, old headboards and cash from a sweepstake all donated by council staff will go a long way towards helping train unemployed people for work.

The first of the Wairarapa Resource Centre's Ready, Set, Recycle bins was placed in the staff room at Masterton District Council early last week and staff filled it to the brim.

Tony Pritchard won the staff World Cup sweepstakes, collecting $32, which he gave to add to the large donation of goods.

Now Mayor Lyn Patterson is challenging other Masterton businesses to jump onboard the upcycling/recycling bandwagon by accepting a bin for staff to put items in for the centre.

The goods are using to help train and prepare the 20 or so volunteers at the centre for work.

Mrs Patterson said the centre did an amazing job preparing people for employment and required community support to continue doing so.

"I challenge businesses to come on board and give it a go. It's not only about the unemployed but giving people the opportunity to recycle. I like the real ethos of the centre. There is a real need for people to recycle," she said.

The aim of the campaign is to provide more stock for the shop, where unemployed people are training and prepared for the workforce.

Centre co-ordinator Trudie Jones said four local businesses had signed up for a wooden recycling box to be placed at their business for staff and customers to load up - ACC, Mitre 10 Mega, BNZ and Red Star sports club. Boxes are emptied regularly by trainees, who then sort through, price and load shelves with goods, along with serving customers.

Sandrina Holl, who arrived at the centre from Stars Trust, was at the council helping Te Ariki pick up the first filled box.

She has been training for six weeks and really enjoys her job. "You meet some lovely people. The staff are so nice," she said.

If you can help the centre by having a box at your place of business, please call Mrs Jones on (06) 377 2090.