Started by a couple of locals in 1997, it became part of Wellington City Council’s tip operations after a couple of years where it was originally run by two staff but has expanded to a team of 20 today.
Over a quarter of a century the shop has sold countless weird and wonderful items including a wicker coffin, a Helen Clark portrait on a plywood sheet recovered from the landfill and auctioned for charity, and over 5,000 working laptops.
More than 500 cars pass through the drop-off area on a busy weekend, the shop has stocked over 2000 TVs for recycling this year alone, and the team has supplied household items for 22 refugee background families.
The Tip Shop has its own Instagram and Facebook accounts and reaches a wide audience through Trade Me. The Trade Me site focuses on electronics and quirky, often vintage, items, one of which was a pair of 18th century Marten’s Margins spectacles which sold for an unprecedented $8,150 – and earned widespread media coverage.
The Tip Shop is as much a community hub as it is a centre for recycling, reusing and repurposing says Waste Minimisation Manager Jenny Elliott.
“We’re proud to offer a sense of community to customers from all walks of life – some of whom have been visiting the Tip Shop since the beginning, and many come in two or three times a week.
“We’re now diverting around 1,000 tonnes per year to reuse or recycle, and we’re going from strength to strength, diversifying our activities and focussing on repair and reuse whenever possible.
“These are just a few of our achievements – we have small wins everyday – so make sure to come visit us and pick up a pre-loved treasure for yourself or Christmas presents for the whole whānau.”
Recycle Centre Manager Shelali Shetty is always on the lookout for other opportunities to support their goals.
“We love to collaborate, and we encourage anyone who has an idea and they’re looking for resources to get in touch.
“We already work closely with Sustainability Trust, Hopper Refill, Maker’s Space and several other like-minded organisations – and are always open to work with more.”
The Tip Shop will have some super 25th birthday specials up for grabs from 18-24 December, so don’t miss out, and grab some bargains that won’t cost the earth this Christmas.