What We've Learned in Just 10 Months

Nearly 40 Tonnes Diverted in Just 10 Months

In just 10 months of operation, our Resource Recovery Centre has diverted an incredible 39,632.87 kg of material from landfill. That's almost 40 tonnes of resources given a second chance instead of becoming waste.

We're proud of what our community has achieved together. Every donation, purchase and conversation about reuse has helped make this possible.

But these numbers also tell another story—one we think is important to share.

What We’ve Learned About Clothing

One of our biggest learnings has been clothing.

Like many people, we started out wanting to save everything we could. It felt wrong to turn away donations, especially when they were offered with the best of intentions.

What we've discovered is that the challenge isn't a lack of generosity—it's a lack of demand.

We receive far more clothing than our community can reuse. Our shop can only display so much, our storage is limited, and holding onto bags of clothing while waiting for the "right" person simply isn't sustainable. Every rack filled with slow-moving clothing is space that could be used for furniture, tools, household goods or building materials that people are actively looking for.

We've also learned we're not alone. Op shops and reuse organisations across New Zealand are facing exactly the same challenge. There simply aren't enough pathways to reuse, refurbish or recycle the enormous volume of textiles entering the system.

Making the Best Use of What We Have

Over these first 10 months we've adapted. We've refined what we accept, improved how we use our space and focused on getting the greatest environmental benefit from the resources we have. Those decisions are never easy, and we know it can be disappointing when we can't accept every donation.

Please know that every decision is made with the same goal: keeping as much valuable material in circulation as possible.

The experience has reinforced an important lesson. Reuse centres can help keep valuable resources out of landfill, but they can't solve overconsumption on their own. The most sustainable choice is still to buy thoughtfully, use what we have for longer, repair where possible and donate items that are clean, functional and likely to find a new home.

Building a Better Circular Economy Together

Nearly 40 tonnes diverted in our first 10 months is something worth celebrating. It's also a reminder that building a circular economy isn't just about collecting more things—it's about creating better systems to ensure those things are genuinely reused.

Thank you for being part of that journey with us.