Te Aro Zero Waste will continue receiving council funding as Wellington backs community efforts to repair household goods, reuse unwanted items and reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill.
The funding is part of a wider package unanimously agreed by Wellington City Council’s Te Hoe Matua | City Strategy and Delivery Committee on 29 October, including expanded organics collection and plans for a bigger Tip Shop.
At Te Aro Zero Waste in Forresters Lane, residents can already bring in items for recycling, shop for second-hand goods and use resources to help them repair what they own.
Its regular sewing sessions give people help with mending clothes, while repair cafés bring together volunteers with skills ranging from electrical repairs to tool sharpening. Sewing machines are also available during opening hours for people who can do their own repairs but lack the equipment or space.
The centre works with community organisations to give donated goods another use, including passing suitable curtains to the Wellington Curtain Bank and bikes to EkeRua ReBicycle.
Mayor Andrew Little said the decision recognised the work already being done by community groups, volunteers and local organisations.
“The Council can support these initiatives, scale up what works, and enable grassroots organisations and citizens to continue taking the lead on waste and recycling issues.”
An amendment from Councillor Jonny Osborne formed a key part of the package. He said stronger resource recovery networks were needed to limit expansion of the Southern Landfill.
Alongside continued support for Te Aro Zero Waste, the committee agreed to a major expansion of community and local organics collection, stronger resource recovery networks, and planning and construction of a larger Tip Shop and transfer station.
It also agreed to explore monthly glass recycling collections and support the recovery of reusable building materials before they are disposed of as cleanfill. Monthly glass collections are an option to investigate, not an announced change to residents’ collections.
The work comes with a funding challenge: the council relies heavily on landfill disposal revenue to help pay for waste services. Reducing the amount dumped also reduces that income.
The council receives around $4.7 million a year from the Waste Minimisation Levy and holds around $9 million in levy reserves. Those funds will help maintain services while longer-term options are considered through the 2027–37 Long-term Plan.
Te Aro Zero Waste is at 2 Forresters Lane and opens Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm. Information about accepted items, repair resources and upcoming sessions is available on its website. https://sustaintrust.org.nz/our-events
