Trash Palace Porirua is marking a decade of keeping reusable goods out of landfill while supporting schools, charities and community organisations.
The second-hand shop and recycling centre at 20 Broken Hill Road collects unwanted furniture, household goods, clothing, electronics, sporting equipment and other reusable items.
Some goods are sold through the shop, while others are reused within the community or recycled rather than being sent to landfill.
Trash Palace says donated items have supported a wide range of organisations and projects across Porirua and the wider Wellington region.
Bicycles have been supplied to Green Bikes Trust, while dictionaries have gone to Arohata Women’s Prison to support education and literacy.
Items have also been supplied to Bush Sprouts Nature School for outdoor education programmes.
Reusable mugs have gone to Victoria University of Wellington to support its No Disposables on Campus campaign, while Trash Palace has worked with local schools on e-waste collection and sustainability education.
The organisation says finding new uses for unwanted goods means donated items can sometimes have a second, third or even fourth life.
“Our goal has always been simple: take things that might be considered trash and give them another chance to become someone’s treasure,” the Trash Palace team said.
Trash Palace says its work relies on people and businesses donating goods they no longer need, allowing items to be reused, resold, repurposed or recycled.
The anniversary comes as Porirua prepares for major changes to waste services at Spicer.
Resource consents to operate Spicer Landfill expire in 2030 and Porirua City Council is considering what will replace the existing landfill operation.
In May, the Council adopted a public refuse transfer station as its interim preferred option for further investigation.
Under that option, residents and small businesses would still be able to drop rubbish at Spicer, but the waste would be transported to another landfill rather than buried on site.
Trash Palace would remain operating at Spicer under the preferred option, along with recycling and green waste services.
The proposal will undergo further consultation through Porirua’s 2027–37 Long-term Plan process before a final decision is made.
For Trash Palace, the focus remains on keeping usable goods in circulation and finding another use for items that might otherwise be thrown away.