A new way to treasure the trash

Inspired by her own personal experience of down-sizing and decluttering, Feilding local Mary Ann Baskerville, has created a Household Recycling Guide tailored for her community. It is the latest project undertaken by the active 75-year-old for the Manawatū Community Trust (MCT) and with support from the Manawatū District Council’s Waste Not Want Not fund.

“I have gone through the downsizing process myself and appreciate how difficult it can be to dispose of excess ‘stuff’,” says Mary Ann. “I thought it would be helpful for our MCT residents, but the guide has been very well received by the whole community.

“It covers the recycling and disposal of anything from light bulbs to coffee pods, paint tins to eyeglasses as well as a list of things to donate to friends, neighbours and the excellent Charity shops we have operating in Feilding,” she says.

Copies will be available at the next Repair Café from 8 August and a copy of the guide can be read and downloaded using the link below and on various other Facebook pages.

A networker by admission, Mary Ann continues to serve her Feilding community in the most practical of ways and always has at least two ‘projects‘ on the go. With a background in teaching, research, social work and the management of Social Services, Mary Ann was a perfect candidate to be a founding Board member of the Manawatū Community Trust in 2008. Her skills and tenacity were tested during the seven-year planning and construction of the Feilding Health Centre and the governance of the Trust’s 200 plus residential units.

On behalf of the Trust, she edited and published a history of the old Feilding Maternity Hospital and assisted with research funded by the Department of Internal Affairs which led to the publication of the report, “Building Productive Relationships in the Manawatu District Council Region: Encouraging Change”. She also supervised a number of social work student placements at the Trust which provided students with skills and knowledge working with older persons while providing friendly service and some very helpful surveys of resident satisfaction and needs.

Mary Ann retired from the Board after 13 years’ service, but continues to contribute as a member of the Trust’s Wellbeing Committee who supported the recycling project. She was awarded a Manawatū District Council Community Honour’s Award in 2022 as recognition for her community service.

Download a copy of the guide