Turning trash into community resource: West Auckland site gets zero-waste upgrade

Big changes to West Auckland’s dump will reinforce the area’s identity as an “eco-city”, a local board member says.

Auckland Council has officially launched the first stage of its Waitākere Resource Recovery Park (WRRP) in Henderson, transforming the city’s largest transfer station into a hub focused on recovery and reuse.

Oscar Kightley, the only Pacific member of the Henderson-Massey Local Board, says the shift not only fits with West Auckland’s environmental values, but also mirrors the sustainable way Pacific families have always lived.

“We don’t waste,” Kightley says. “We’ve got big families … we’ve got to find creative ways of looking after everyone … we don’t waste stuff on our islands. This shouldn’t be seen as kind of a one-off … this should be our approach for everything.”

He says the upgraded facility connects long-standing Pacific practices with Waitākere’s self-image as an environmental leader.

“The West has always called itself an eco-city, and there's always been an emphasis on the environment and doing things better,” Kightley says. “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. A lot of trash is just stuff that people are getting rid of, not because it’s useless. I think this is only a positive thing.”

The Tipping Shop at Waitākere’s Resource Recovery Park gives preloved items a second chance - supporting West Auckland’s zero-waste goals. Photo/MPHS Tipping Point Facebook

“We are part of the environment,” he adds. “The more we look after ourselves and try to be more efficient in how we live … the better for our environment that sustains us all.”

The site, formerly known as the Waitākere Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station, is now focused on recovering and reusing materials that would otherwise go to landfill.

Last year, 86,400 tonnes of material passed through the site, and 45 per cent was diverted from landfill. The redevelopment is jointly funded by Auckland Council and National Infrastructure Funding and Finance (formerly Crown Infrastructure Partners).

Councillor Richard Hills, chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee, says the site is a key part of Auckland’s zero-waste strategy.

“The Waitākere Resource Recovery Park is another big step forward in our waste reduction efforts in Tāmaki Makaurau,” Hills says. “It’s in line with our well-supported vision for a zero-waste Auckland by 2040.”

The revamped site features the expanded Tipping Point Reuse Shop, operated by MPHS Community Trust, where donated items are resold to support local programmes. It also includes a new Construction and Demolition Hub to help builders and residents salvage usable building materials.

Teams from Tipping Point, Waiōrea CRC, the Youth Studio, and MPHS came together to celebrate the new site - a shared kaupapa, delivered together. Photo/MPHS Tipping Point Facebook

MPHS chief executive Kathryn Lawlor says the new infrastructure protects valuable materials from damage and supports the local economy.

“This next chapter brings new opportunities for our community through employment, volunteering and learning about how everyday actions support a more sustainable future,” she says.

Auckland Council’s General Manager of Waste Solutions, Justine Haves, says WRRP is more than a waste site - it’s a community space that can shift behaviour.

“It’s not just about managing waste,” Haves says. “It’s about supporting behaviour change, community engagement and local circular economies.”

The Waitākere site is part of the city’s wider Resource Recovery Network, which includes 13 community recycling centres. Council aims to expand this to 21 centres and two major parks by 2030, putting most urban residents within a 20-minute drive of a facility.

WRRP is located at 50 The Concourse, Henderson.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.