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In our last edition of the e-news we shared information on the recent changes to recycling in Western Australia. While these changes affect certain household items, many of the items people try to recycle still have us scratching our heads.
Many people are ‘wish-cycling’ – putting items in their recycling bins and wishing or hoping that they will be recycled, even though they probably know that they won’t. The image to the left shows a large plush toy in good condition which has been wrongly placed into a yellow-topped recycling bin.
Textiles and good quality clothing should never be placed into a recycling bin and where possible should be reused or donated to charity. When placed into the wrong bin, these types of materials not only contaminate other good quality products, but can also lead to disruptions and damage to machinery at recycling facilities.
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From left to right: Stephanie Courtney (City of Melville) Isabelle Marie (SMRC), Paul Molony (City of Melville) and Isabelle Gagnon (WREN) at Little Hands Festival: Kidchella!
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The Recycle Right team and the WREN have been out and about at some local events recently, starting with the City of Fremantle’s Garage Sale Trail event at the Fremantle Recycling Yard on Saturday October 20.
There were plenty of people choosing to reuse by buying second hand items, and there was a huge variety of items for sale – not just clothes and trinkets but bicycles and even scuba gear! We were speaking to locals about the recent recycling changes, the upcoming FOGO 3 bin system and making t-shirt bags out of pre-loved t-shirts.
On Sunday November 4 we also joined the City of Melville to act as ‘bin fairies’ and talk all things rubbish. It was a beautiful day down at Tompkins Reserve by the water for Little Hands Festival: Kidchella! and a very busy event with no shortage of residents to talk to about FOGO, recycling and cloth nappies.
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If you would like to see what happens to your recycling bin once it leaves the kerb, why not come and join a tour. It’s a perfect opportunity to learn a little more about an everyday activity.
We have the following tour dates coming up: Tuesday December 18th 10.00am and Tuesday January 15th 10.00am.
Email Isabelle to book a place: tours@smrc.com.au
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With the festive season fast approaching, you may have noticed the stores are stocked up with plenty of gifts to give this year. Instead of giving a gift that may be forgotten or broken within months, how about trying something a bit different? Let’s make it memorable!
Here are 5 top tips to get you started, we will have a few more in our December edition.
- Give the gift of time – teach a loved one how to make your famous pie or biscuits or offer to take them out for an afternoon. This doesn’t have to be expensive. A day at the beach or playing in the park with a home-made picnic can be lots of fun.
- Have a Secret Santa within your family – this way each person only gets one gift, you spend less time and money shopping and there is a higher chance of the person using and enjoying the gift.
- Set some gift goals – why not ask family or friends to only give gifts that are pre-loved, no new gifts. This might feel difficult at first, but it will make you turn up your creativity and really give something different with the bonus of saving resources.
- If you are hosting guests, it’s the perfect time to make sure you are providing a recycling bin in an easy to access spot for any celebrations. Having an easy to find recycling bin helps your friends and family put their bottles and cans in the right bin and keeps precious resources out of landfill.
- To save yourself some money and help make some space in your recycling bin, have jugs of tap water on-hand at parties or events, instead of supplying bottled water. You can add a few slices of lemon or orange for extra effect and some ice to keep it cool.
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If you would like to talk to the Recycle Right team in person, we have the following events coming up:
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Sunday November 25
George Street Festival
East Fremantle;
Thursday November 29
Sustainable Xmas Maker event at the Fremantle Library; and
Friday November 30
Willagee Town Team Night Market at George Humes Park, Willagee
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The South Metropolitan Regional Council (SMRC) and the City of Melville have received the Avoid Recover Protect – Waste Management Award at this year’s Infinity Awards, for the first Perth Metropolitan 3-bin Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) trial.
