From Bottle Caps to Building PCs: Liam’s Journey to Zero Waste

Recently, our Community Education Manager Kim received an email from a customer that perfectly captures the "slippery slope" of getting involved with sustainability.

You might start with recycling, or composting, or a reusable coffee cup; soon you’ll find yourself repairing, reusing, and just generally being awesome.

For Liam, his journey started with bottle caps.

Here’s Liam’s journey in his own words:

My relationship with the Trust started fairly innocently. I was looking for somewhere to drop off a stash of plastic bottle caps that I knew were otherwise destined for landfill. What started as a quick “pop in and drop these off” has slowly morphed into something of a regular occurrence.

These days I find myself wandering in fairly often. It started with recycling electronics, then purchasing the odd pre-loved appliance like a toaster or lawn mower, then getting some of my dubious electronics tested. On one memorable occasion I even dropped in to sew the back of my pants after an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction that occurred mid meeting at the office. Safe to say the mince pies may have played a role in that particular incident.

What started as a quick “pop in and drop these off” has slowly morphed into something of a regular occurrence.

The thing I love about the place is that every time I go in there seems to be something new happening. You pop in to do one thing and suddenly you’re discovering three other things you didn’t know existed five minutes earlier.

Which brings me to Dan.

You pop in to do one thing and suddenly you’re discovering three other things you didn’t know existed five minutes earlier.

Dan is an absolute legend. His enthusiasm, quips, and generally excitable nature had me fizzing about PCs again like I was a teenager wandering into a Dick Smith for the very first time.

It started with me eyeing up a rig on the shelf and thinking to myself how I might slowly upgrade it over time and become a tourist in my own youth again, cracking into a bit of gaming on the increasingly rainy Wellington days.

Next thing I know I’m haggling with Dan over parts and piecing together a Frankenstein of a gaming PC using reused components and a bit of creative problem solving. What started as a casual idea has turned into a full blown project.

Naturally, along the way I have managed to break things. For example, forcing a Windows update that very efficiently bricked the PC. But there was Dan, as enthusiastic as ever, leaning in to help bring the thing back from the dead.

For me it started with bottle caps. Then electronics recycling. Then fixing things. Then buying pre-loved gear. Now apparently I’m building gaming PCs out of rescued parts while your Toast offshoot powers my apartment.

What I really love about the Sustainability Trust is how it keeps evolving. For me it started with bottle caps. Then electronics recycling. Then fixing things. Then buying pre-loved gear. Now apparently I’m building gaming PCs out of rescued parts while your Toast offshoot powers my apartment.

Who knows what’s next. Perhaps a reusable rocket that goes up and collects all the techno-crap currently filling the night sky.

Then again, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about the Sustainability Trust, it’s that the sky probably isn’t the limit.

Ngā mihi to Liam for sharing this story!

We love hearing all customer feedback. Liam’s story is particularly resonant for us because it represents the heart of our kaupapa: creating a community space fuelled by connection, curiosity, and conversation around zero waste.

Sustainability isn’t a destination you reach overnight; it’s a series of small steps. Whether you’re here to drop off a bag of lids, fix a pair of pants, or chat tech with Dan, our doors (and our sewing stations) are open.

Haere mai to Te Aro Zero Waste. Our staff and volunteers are a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm, and we’re here for everyone—no matter where you are on your journey.