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ReDiscover is a new education center in Selwyn which aims to teach schools and community groups about waste minimisation.
A new eco-centre is helping people think differently about how they live and what they leave behind.
ReDiscover at Rolleston’s Pines Resource Recovery Park in early April and is the first waste minimization education center in Selwyn District.
“As a Council, we don’t have much influence over the manufacturers or the packaging they use, but we can help people become more aware of the products they buy, the impacts they have and some of the alternatives.” said Andrew Boyd, Waste and Resource Recovery Manager.
The center offers programs to school and community groups focused on the topics of reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering.
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The ReDiscover Center is made from relocated old classroom blocks.
During the first week, more than 160 children passed through the center’s doors.
ReDiscover was created as a practical example to show people what could be achieved by rethinking waste.
The building itself is made from relocated old classroom blocks from Waimari and Tai Tapu schools.
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A poster shows where the materials in the ReDiscover building come from.
The railings are made from discarded golf clubs, while the whiteboards and heat pumps came from Cobham Intermediate in Christchurch.
The parking lot was made from recycled asphalt, plastic oil containers and used motor oil, and the path was made from 8 tons of glass bottles that were on site.
“Everything that could be obtained second-hand, reused or made from recycled materials was. The new materials were carefully selected to minimize environmental impact,” said Boyd.
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From left: Council on Waste and Sustainability Educator Elizabeth Lovell, Waste and Resource Recovery Manager Andrew Boyd and Selyn Mayor Sam Broughton at the opening of ReDiscover.
Council waste and sustainability educator Elizabeth Lovell said they wanted to add a community garden centre, thrift shop, tool loan and maker spaces to the site.
The first stages of the community garden had started and consent had been granted for the thrift store, which is due to open early next year, Mr Boyd said.
“It’s a destination for all things and the big parking lot should be a small, busy place.”
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ReDiscover will eventually include a community garden and thrift store.
