A group of us were given an enlightening talk by Kim Tabrum at the Sustainability Trust, an environmental organization based in Wellington. We were given a short tour of the premises during which we had our eyes well and truly opened, especially when visiting the impressive curtain bank area and that containing home insulation products.
The Sustainability Trust began in 2003 when it was based at Trash Palace, Porirua. It moved to Newtown and then to its present site off Tory Street, nearly 20 years ago. It is a not for profit, social enterprise with a large staff, many of them volunteers, that supports healthy and sustainable living whether that be recovering, reusing, repairing or recycling, or in insulating homes, so that people limit their environmental impact. It is not fully funded by government and relies on donations and accessing other funding. It has links to other organisations, like the City Mission and Wellington City Council Housing and is undoubtedly mitigating against climate change.
There are various parts to the Trust:
The Eco shop: contains products that support sustainable living.
Recycling: small metal items like metal jar lids, Colgate oral care items, plastic bottle tops (must have a triangle and the number 2 or 5 in them) and wool can be brought here. There is also E-waste recycling.
Wilderkids holiday programme: in 2017 David Attenborough wrote, ‘No one will protect what they don’t care about. No-one will care about what they’ve never experienced’. This programme helps children to experience and connect with nature whether in the bush or sand and to date nearly 6000 have had this opportunity. Donations help those less well-off to attend.
Spoiled Rotten: organic waste contributes to methane gas emissions so a trial was begun with compost bins provided for food scraps which could then be emptied at food hubs and made into compost for returning to the soil, the Sustainability Trust giving guidance along the way.
Repairs: on the first Saturday of the month a place can be booked to have one of 47 volunteers repair or alter items – whether they be garments, appliances or bicycles.
The Wellington Curtain Bank: this accepts preloved curtains that are not mouldy or too faded and lines, resizes and remakes into curtains for other homes. Over a 12 year period 21374 curtains have been given out to 5783 households! Even if donated curtains are not suitable, the tapes and hooks are reused.
Healthy homes: heating, insulation and removal of mould or mouldy bedding make for warmer homes.
The ‘Toast electric’ power company: this is an effective not for profit electric retailer in the Wellington area with the “power to do good” which guarantees never to turn off the electricity.
Everyone should visit this amazing place. If you can’t, look it up on line!
Bridget Hodgkinson