KEY POINTS:
Auckland trash which has for decades been turned into pleasure for children, students and the elderly could end up in rubbish tips as a popular resource centre faces closure.
The West Auckland Resource Centre in New Lynn is desperately looking for new premises because the site, next to the local primary school, is needed for a kindergarten.
The centre had been running for 30 years - well before recycling became fashionable.
The non-profit organisation offers discarded products such as cardboard and materials at very cheap rates for use in craft making and the like to pre-schools, schools, tertiary arts students, clubs and resthomes.
Anne O'Brien spent more than 25 years as a volunteer, going around factories to pick up scrap goods.
She is also a former centre co-ordinator.
Mrs O'Brien said the resource centre had been started up by a group of Playcentre mothers who needed materials for their pre-schoolers.
The centre, now operating out of a garage, would be sorely missed if new accommodation could not be found as it was well used by low-decile schools and play groups, she said.
"We have been given notice of the need to move and are currently operating month to month."
The centre chairwoman, Gretchen Schubeck, said there had been a huge public response as word got out that the centre might have to close.
"We've had letters from heaps of people who have used the service for year saying what a huge loss it would be."
