Junk to Funk 2009

The primary objective of the Waste Resource Trust is to educate and inform residents, visitors, schools, community groups and local businesses on issues surrounding recycling and waste management on Waiheke Island and to offer advice and practical solutions. 

The end result is to reduce the amount of waste we send back to Auckland landfills.

On this website you will find information on how to recycle; what we've been doing in our community to educate and inform; and how you can help us to keep Waiheke green.

New Initiatives: This year the Waste Resource Trust has been working on setting up drop off systems for our community to deal with pesky items that often end up in landfill that really shouldn’t! 

Battery Bins

Your normal household batteries are hazardous waste and if they end up in the landfill leach all sorts of toxic material. 

Dispose of your unwanted household batteries by dropping them in the bins located at the WRT office at Artworks in Oneroa, The transfer station Hazardous Waste bins in Ostend, the drop off bin at Te Tahi Gallery, Ocean View Road in Oneroa, Gulf Sound and Vision in Belgium Street, Ostend, and Placemakers in Ostend beside the supermarket.

What happens to them?

The batteries are all sent to the Auckland Regional Council’s Haz-Mobile and the recyclable batteries are separated from the non-recyclable ones.  The recyclable ones are sent to France for re manufacturing while the non-recyclable ones are encased in concrete to stop them leaching before being buried in landfills.

Ink jet cartridges and toners

We have set up drop off boxes for toners and ink jet cartridges at our office at Artworks; New Generation in Tahi Road Ostend; Waiheke Primary School; Waiheke High School and Te Huruhi Primary School as well as Gulf Sound and Vision in Ostend, The PHO in Surfdale and The Citizens Advice Bureau in Oneroa. We can also supply paid self addresses envelopes for individuals to send their ink jet cartridges to the Toner Recycling Company in Auckland.

What happens to them?

We organise the full boxes of toners/ink jet cartridges to be couriered to the Toner Recycling Company in Auckland. The Toner Recycling Company pays $2 to the Waste Resource Trust for toners that they are able to recycle easily but will take all types of toners and ink jets for recycling.  When they receive them they are either re-manufactured or broken down into their component parts for re-use. The plastic for example is used for the construction of letterboxes and outdoor furniture. 

Cellphones

Cell phones and their accompanying equipment are part of a burgeoning waste stream known as e-waste – a shorthand form for ‘electronic waste’ which when buried in landfills can be toxic.

On Waiheke, Gulf Sound and Vision will take all cell phones and batteries and charging equipment.

What happens to them?

Vodaphone New Zealand have a system where they will receive all and any cell phone equipment (not just their own). The equipment is broken down and where possible fixed for re-use. The recyclable components are used for making plastic cones, buckets and copper pipe.

Happy recycling!