SINCE 2005, Lucky Mthiyane has turned discarded wood at the Richards Bay landfill site into furniture fit for the fussiest.
But two months ago, the area was tendered out and he could no longer use the space to work his magic.
Fortunately it was not long until one of his most loyal customers, Johan Byars from Premier Hydraulics, stepped in and sponsored the Alton company’s backyard as well as electricity supply for Lucky and his six employees.
Now they are back with a bang, knocking together plain pallets to build Wendy houses, tables, benches, dog kennels, chicken coups, picket fences, shelves and trendy refuse bin boxes.
Lucky thanked the company for its continued generosity.
‘I am truly grateful as I love woodwork and enjoy coming up with new and innovative ideas, ever since I first heard from the municipality about the potential of recycling wood more than a decade ago.
‘Today I can make anything from a customer’s drawing.
‘But I am especially excited about my bin boxes and hope to sell many of them going forward.’
What is left over and unusable is dropped off at the KwaMbonambi dump site where community members fetch timber to use as firewood for cooking.
His only concern now is maintaining a sufficient stock of pallets and covering the array of newly made furniture at the outdoor workshop.
‘I would like to appeal to companies to please contribute pallets, and shelter would be much appreciated, especially when it rains or get sweltering hot,’ he said.
Lucky can be contacted on 078 8621331.
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