Residents Leading Charge
General Interest
Ranfurly Village is proud to showcase a range of sustainability initiatives that focus on re-use and recycling, all led by an active group of residents committed to making a difference. These projects, which include annual e-waste and clothing drives as well as regular collections of soft plastics and bottle tops, have become a vital part of the Ranfurly community’s efforts to reduce waste and contribute to worthy causes.
The annual e-waste collection has become a highly anticipated event, with numerous volunteers helping on collection day. Residents donate a wide variety of electronic devices, from cell phones, laptops, and printers to electrical cables, radios, TVs, and other household appliances. A significant aspect of the initiative is that residents are encouraged to take any serviceable items for personal use. “There has always been an enthusiastic uptake of this offer,” says one of the volunteers.
Village management has been a supportive partner since the program’s inception four years ago, assisting with transporting collected items to the Auckland Upcycle depot.
In addition to the e-waste collection, Ranfurly residents also run several other important sustainability projects:
Annual clothing collection:
Residents donate pre-loved clothing, which is then taken to the Women’s Refuge by dedicated volunteers. This initiative provides essential clothing to those in need.
Ongoing soft-plastic collection:
Now in its third year, this project encourages residents to recycle soft plastics, with each apartment building nominating a volunteer to collect and drop off items at the local soft-plastic collection point.
Wine bottle tops and can tabs collection:
A jar is placed in common areas for residents to contribute their wine bottle tops and can tabs. The collected items are then given to the Orewa Lions Club, who use the funds raised to help children undergoing dialysis attend school camps – a life-changing opportunity for many.
This year, Ranfurly Village launched a new initiative, encouraging residents to donate their old eyewear. The response was overwhelming, with over 200 pairs of glasses collected. These were sent to the NZ Lions Club for cleaning and sorting, then distributed by the Volunteer Ophthalmic Services Overseas to those in need in the Pacific Islands. This initiative has proven so successful that it will now become an annual collection event.
Bay of Plenty Residents Take Action
Residents of Pacific Coast and Pacific Lakes Villages also joined the eyewear donation campaign. Margaret Giles, Pacific Coast resident explains: “I was at my optometrist one day and I noticed a gentleman bringing in a few pairs of glasses. So out of curiosity, I asked what he was doing with them. The person explained he was donating them.”
Margaret learned that her optometrist collects any type of glasses (reading, sunglasses, special cataract glasses) and then donates them to the NZ Lions Clubs. Margaret went home and reached out to both Pacific Coast and Pacific Lakes Villages. Together, they collected over 700 pairs (yes that is correct!) of glasses and sunglasses, which were then donated to NZ Lions Club.
In addition to the eyewear initiative, the Bay of Plenty Villages have made their Spring Clean campaign a regular fixture. Each year, residents donate van-loads of pre-loved household items and clothing to local hospice. Additionally, the village collects a significant amount of e-waste, ensuring it is properly recycled. These combined efforts continue to make a meaningful impact on both the environment and local communities.
The Power of Community
Action Resident-led sustainability initiatives are at the heart of the resident’s commitment to the environment and the wider community. These efforts not only provide residents with accessible recycling and donation options but also empower individuals to take responsibility for their waste. “We have seen great interest and uptake of these recycling and re-use initiatives,” say Ranfurly Village residents. “Many of these activities are an extension of the volunteer work we did in the wider community, so it’s only natural we continue to contribute here.”
With hundreds of residents, every small action adds up. The collective power of the community amplifies the impact of each individual effort, making a real and lasting difference. As one volunteer from Ranfurly puts it,
“Residents want to do the right thing, and together we can create positive change.”
This article is from the latest issue of Sustainable Retirement Living Magazine - click here to explore the magazine.
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