Māngere Bridge local Ian Campbell is a keen recycler and his two sons Flynn and Ollie follow his lead. The recycling bug started when they were renovating their house and found themselves with loads of plumbing and building materials that many people would take straight to the tip. Instead, Ian took some to a scrap metal yard and was surprised by how much it was worth.
Digging deeper and learning more led him and the boys to start collecting old washing machines, driers and fridges and dismantling them to access the scrap metals. Flynn and Ollie saw how their work paid off and saved their share of the takings to buy computer equipment and upgrade their bikes.
Friends have joked that Ian and his sons are the modern Steptoe and Sons of Māngere Bridge!
Ian sometimes looks for $1 bargains on Trade Me and when he turns up with his trailer to collect the goods neighbours offer him their obsolete appliances. Ian says “These appliances cant be repaired and people just want to get rid of them. It’s a community service removing these broken-down appliances from the streets, plus we like recycling. My sons are learning the rewards of work and it’s something we do together”
These three keen recyclers have taken 4765kg of metal to the scrap metal yards, including 34kg of car batteries and 137kg of fridge motors. The boys enjoy taking things apart and sorting the various components. It’s a hobby for them and Ian (who has a full-time job).
Friends have joked that Ian and his sons are the modern Steptoe and Sons of Māngere Bridge!
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