12 April 2024, Issue 1205
Your junk, their lifeline A new earth-saving, people-empowering phenomenon is happening in Katikati. It’s Wednesday afternoon at Katikati Recycling Centre and the new Resource Recovery Centre located on-site has people sorting batteries, e-waste and much more. Others are fixing things. The ‘things’ are reusable items that have been dropped off
by the local community. And you name it, it’s being dropped off – think fridges, freezers, TVs, computers, sound systems, sporting equipment, garden and power tools, furniture, and now plants! The Chrome Collective team – which offers training, employment and advocacy to people with disabilities to integrate them
into the wider community – are fixing and sorting items with the people they help in the hope of on-selling it to raise funds to keep doing their good work. “Ultimately the reason behind it all is for us to save the planet, but also to create long-term employment opportunities for people with disabilities. It’s a win-win
story for all,” says Chrome Collective’s operations manager Sharaine Steenberg, pictured here with donations. A whopping eight tonnes of reusable items have been donated in a month – but they need more before August 31 to determine if the centre can open a retail facility on-site. Read more on page 14. Photo: John Borren.