Computers gifted to school came from recycling initiative

Grey Lynn School students are excited about six revamped iMac computers donated to the school as a result of recycling.

Grey Lynn 2030 Waste Away Group presented the iMacs to the school last week after a successful e-waste collection day last month.

They received 12 tonnes of e-waste in six hours and $1132 donated by the public.

The computers that could be repaired were tested and had programs installed.

Group member Lynn Green says Waste Away wanted to put something back into the local community and so gifted six repaired iMacs to Grey Lynn School.

Year six teacher Andrea Fale accompanied four students to receive the gift last week.

“These kids are the future and it’s turning digital so we’ve got to keep up. We’re very honoured to get these computers. It will extend their learning even more,” she says.

The school is excited because it has been embracing the digital world with a focus on e-learning this year, with many classrooms having online blogs.

The children’s drawings, creative stories, performances and school trip videos all feature on the class blogs and the children love to receive comments.

Fale says the school is now looking to collaborate with Grey Lynn 2030, by mentioning the group in the school’s online blogs and newsletters.

“We didn’t realise the different initiatives Grey Lynn 2030 had going. Now we’re looking at our school environment team working with them as we’re developing 16 gardens for the 16 classrooms,” she says.

They will also work together in the classroom educating the children about recycling and the future of Auckland city.

Green says the group’s aim for the future is to create a local collection point where people can drop off their e-waste on a day to day basis.

The aim would be for the equipment to be recycled or refurbished and donated back into the community.

Grey Lynn 2030 Waste Away is a community group that is part of the global Transition Towns movement.

It focuses on reducing waste, with the group’s highest aim to wean the community off fossil fuels towards a lower carbon footprint.