Our Story
The Seagull Centre is an award-winning, registered charitable trust and has been operating from the Thames site since 2004.
Operating as a social enterprise, the Seagull Centre is a community recycling and resource recovery facility generating revenue from the sale of goods and materials contributed by the local community. By diverting waste from landfill, the Seagull Centre is a self-funded operation providing local employment and affordable goods.
The centre also provides education and training services on enviromental management and assisting training students into work. Where possible, the centre also contributes goods and grant funding to other organisations. The Seagull Centre has gone through a major development to establish a Resource Recovery Park and will effectively be doubling operations to significantly increase it impact of waste diversion from landfill.
A workshop is part of the expansion where donated goods can be reconditioned or upcycled for sale. The Resource Recovery Park development has included the relocation (recycling!) of two disused classrooms from a local primary school which are used for workshop space and skills training in the repair and rejuvenation of furniture, appliances and other equipment. Domestic traffic bound for the Refuse Transfer Station to dump unwanted goods is now directed through the expanded Seagull Centre where staff will help customers sort out furniture and equipment that can be sold at the centre's shop or reconditioned in the new workshop.
What we do…
Situated next to the towns refuse transfer station, the Seagull Centre has evolved over the years to become an important part of the Thames community.
Initially established with grants from the Thames-Coromandel District Council, the Seagull Centre has evolved significantly. It has continued to expand with support from the Waste Minimisation Fund and the local community.
It provides an important destination for unwanted, redundant and donated goods which would otherwise end up going to the refuse transfer station and into the landfill
The Seagull Centre takes the goods, and through a process of sorting, grading, testing, service and repair, then offers them for sale to the community. The funds raised covers the ongoing running costs of the enterprise.
The Seagull Centre is now self-sustaining and not reliant on grants or subsidies for ongoing operations.
Join the team
The Seagull Centre thrives thanks to the dedication of our volunteer Trustees, hardworking staff, generous community, and valued stakeholders, all working together to ensure our sustainable success and positive impact.
If you are interested in being involved, call into the centre and talk to our staff. It is regarded as one of the most popular businesses in town and there is always lots happening.
Our Philosophy
Reduce - Reuse - Recycle
Our Vision
Solutions to Enhance the Circular Economy
Our Mission
A leader in engaging communities in Thames/Coromandel to rethink, refuse, reuse, repair, refurbish and recycle.
Our Values
Act with integrity
Community well-being
Environmentally responsible
We strive to achieve these by:
Creating local jobs
Providing affordable goods to the community
Diverting waste from the landfill
Education and training initiatives