South Taranaki Communities Champion Circular Stationery Initiative

South Taranaki has once again shown its commitment supporting the local community through reuse and sustainability with an overwhelming response to South Taranaki District Council’s Stationery Drive.

Councils Environment and Sustainability Manager Cindy Koen says the generosity from the community has made a real impact this year, with a staggering total of 103.22kg of stationery donated — 101.94kg going directly back into the community, and 1.28kg diverted from landfill through TerraCycle.

The donated supplies will be delivered to a local school in the community that contributed them, ensuring they reach the tamariki who need them most for the start of their school year.

Thanks to support from the Waste Minimisation Fund, Taranaki Timebank Upsewing also produced 50 book bags and pencil cases, all made from upcycled materials, as Council’s contribution to the donations.

Cindy says the initiative highlights the power of collective action.

“This initiative is a great example of how small actions by many people create a meaningful impact,” she says. “By choosing to donate rather than discard, our communities are helping reduce waste, support reuse and ensure local tamariki start the school year with the tools they need.”

“We’re grateful for the generosity shown across South Taranaki, and we look forward to continuing this momentum throughout the year. It really proves that one person’s old is another person’s gold.”

The Circular Stationery Initiative will continue throughout the year in preparation for the start of the school year next year.

Anyone having a clean-out is encouraged to drop off good, usable stationery items (pens, pencils, highlighters, markers, crayons, exercise books, notebooks, art books, erasers, rulers, sharpeners, glue sticks, protractors, scissors, calculators, headphones or book bags) at the Hāwera Administration Building or at any LibraryPlus in Hāwera, Eltham, Kaponga, Manaia, Ōpunakē, Pātea or Waverley.