Following in the footsteps of her father "Gelignite Jeff" Connelly, Anne Smythe and her husband Justin run the Cromwell Scrap Metal Recyclers and Second Hand Dealers yard on Cemetery Rd. Rosie Manins talks to the couple about their business and discovers that one person's trash really is another's treasure.
Central Otago's largest scrap metal and second-hand dealers yard does not have a typical customer base.
People of all ages and backgrounds browse the seemingly ad-hoc collection of materials within the 2ha property, for myriad reasons.
Owners Anne and Justin Smythe have learned not to throw anything away - no matter how useless it may seem.
"We daren't throw things out, thinking they are pieces of rubbish, because the next day you can bet someone will come in and ask for it. At times I've gotten rid of the most obscure thing thinking it would never sell, and blow me down someone has come along wanting it," Mr Smythe said.
"Now we pretty much have anything people want 99% of the time. All sorts of people from all walks of life come through and it's amazing what people want. The saying one man's junk is another man's treasure is very true. It's incredible."
Among the mountains of material, some rare gems can be found, if people have the patience to discover them.
"Some people come in and spend all day just wandering around. Quite often farmers will come into town for the weekly shop and the wives will drop their husbands off at the yard while they do the shopping in town," Mrs Smythe said.
Some items were more popular than others and disappeared "in seconds", Mr Smythe said.
The main part of the business is scrap metal, but the couple also handle a lot of second-hand cars and motoring parts.
About 100 cars are situated in the yard and another 100 are sitting in storage at a separate property in Cromwell.
Tyres and batteries are also popular items among the vast range of things available, which includes ceramics, ornaments, household goods, landscaping materials, garden ornaments, windows, doors, and old tractors.
Piles of scrap metal in every shape, size, and condition also litter the yard.
"It's one of the very few remaining yards like this in the country.
People from Auckland have visited and said there's nothing like this up there anymore - it's quite unique," Mr Smythe said.
Sometimes items are forgotten for a time, before being dug out at random.
"I have an idea in my mind of all the things we have in here, but sometimes I won't know where something is, even if I'm sure we have it somewhere. It's a battle to get it organised at times," he said.
The couple bought the business from Mrs Smythe's father, Jeff Connelly, a couple of years ago.
Mr Connelly had owned and operated scrap metal yards in Cromwell for years, and Mrs Smythe had fond memories of growing up and later working in them.
Mr Smythe - originally from Tauranga - is a builder by trade.
The yard sited on Cemetery Rd behind Cromwell's industrial area is the fourth location for the business.
"The [Central Otago District Council] keeps moving us further out of town," Mrs Smythe said.
Mr and Mrs Smythe run the entire business themselves, which requires hours spent on the road sourcing and disposing of material.
"We pick up stuff all the time. Farmers and rural property owners often ring us, and we have an arrangement with the refuse station in Frankton," Mrs Smythe said.
Recently the couple bought a "grab" for their truck, which means they can easily pick up or drop off any item, including large vehicles.
"We will pick up anything, no matter what or where it is. You learn to be a magpie in this business," Mrs Smythe said.
Scrap steel is taken to Dunedin for recycling, and all other metal including brass, copper, aluminium, and stainless steel is cut to size and transported to Christchurch.
"Everything is recycled or reused. We feel good about things having a second life rather than just being put into landfill," she said.
