Old products come clean

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.

Waipā staff working with Enrich Plus clients to make their own cleaning products.

The community partnership provided great learnings, said Transport manager Bryan Hudson in his report to the Service Delivery committee this week.

Bryan Hudson

“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.

Waipā staff working with Enrich Plus clients to make their own cleaning products.

More Recent News

Building a champion

24 April 2025 The original article has been changed. Timmo’s ITM is still owned and operated by Clayton and Nicky Timmo and not Jack Mathis’ brother. Timmo’s joined ITM in 2004 and after nearly 40…

Kennedy fluoride move greeted

Anti-fluoride campaigners are claiming another victory as the United States administration takes an increasingly negative view of the use of the chemical. The latest move has seen US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy announcing plans to…

Board neutral on water option

The consultation process surrounding the formation of a seven-council controlled water authority has been described as a bitter pill to swallow. Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community board member Sally Whitaker said she felt like Waipā District Council’s…

Creativity on show

Te Awamutu Creative Fibre group members will show off their mastery in town next week. An array of products, many of them made from scratch using centuries-old skills, will be available for purchase, including a…