Turning trash into treasure

Marlborough’s Re-use Shop is a treasure trove of previously loved goods saved from going to the landfill.

Eagle-eyed staff who are passionate about the environment make sure any usable items are given a new lease of life and any groups looking for items are welcome to put their hands up.

Take Outward Bound - the non-profit organisation goes through lots of crockery so take any white plates, bowls and cups are free of chips and cracks.

Blenheim School was recently refurbishing their cooking unit so kitchen utensils were put aside for them.

Chloe Abernethy from JBL Environmental Ltd which runs the Re-use Shop is excited about future plans for the shop and working with people, groups and businesses to continue to reduce what goes to landfill.

“There are lots of different ways these materials can be used and there is so much of it – we love seeing the benefit it brings to people,” she said.

JBL works closely with local businesses on projects including the Pallet Recovery Scheme which has diverted more than 200 tonnes of pallets going to landfill by offering them to the community for projects.

Another popular project is the repurposing of coco peat from a local tomato farm which is given away as garden mulch, keeping around 180 cubic metres of waste from the landfill every year.

In coordination with Council, JBL also carry out the Unwanted Goods Project which collects surplus household goods and furniture and delivers it to people in need throughout Marlborough and through organisations such as Kainga Ora, WINZ and migrant groups.

“It really is easy to keep stuff out of the landfill and we are blessed with amazing staff who support other organisations as we all work together,” she said.

Chloe says they are currently setting up bins to make sorting reusable goods easier and developing their yard into a more user-friendly place.