It has been said that one man’s trash is often another man’s treasure. In this day of consciousness about waste and movements towards recycling, it is refreshing to see that local industrial waste is being put to good use.
The group at Stanhope Men’s Shed have entered an arrangement with the local Fonterra factory to remove as much of the packaging waste that comes with the new machines and equipment they are installing as part of their makeover. The material is put to good use, particularly with some of the members and as a marketable product to local farmers.
The proceeds are then used to improve the facility of the Men’s Shed with new equipment and new projects.
Coordinator for the Men’s Shed, Des Crichton said, “We have taken out hundreds of trailer and truckloads of old packaging material that we have had to rent additional storage space and with the proceeds, we have purchased a forklift to help handle the material. Where a lot of men’s Shed rely upon grants, we have become self-sustainable.”
In recognition of their recycling efforts, at the National Men’s Shed Awards this month, the Stanhope Men’s Shed received an award for Outstanding Recycling/Upcycling Activity.
