A project between Waipā council and disability provider Enrich Plus which taught clients how to make their own low-cost, low-waste household cleaning products using repurposed packaging, has been a success.
The community partnership provided great learnings, said Transport manager Bryan Hudson in his report to the Service Delivery committee this week.
“All ingredients, resources, labels and a bespoke recipe book were provided to workshop attendees, who really appreciated the opportunity to take home purposeful resources they had made themselves.”
Clients made their own washing powder, cleaning paste, bench spray and dishwasher powder.
The council Waste Minimisation team then held two free Make and Donate weekend sessions in the Te Awamutu Library.
Both sessions were oversubscribed with 50 at each.
“Feedback was overwhelmingly glowing and there is already demand to host more workshops later in the year,” said Hudson.
Staff also supported the Te Awamutu Food Forest and the group’s ongoing development of the Pekapekarau Reserve by funding hot compost bins to handle the large amount of clippings, damaged fruit and vegetable peelings from the community and Garden to Table participating schools.
Finally, several retirement villages have booked seminars to understand the council’s recycling work and how to minimise waste in daily life.