A new initiative aimed at reducing the impact of waste by encouraging residents to recycle clothing and linen has been launched in Port Macquarie, New South Wales.
Not-for-profit foundation Willing & Able, in partnership with Impact Environmental Consultancy (IEC), has kick-started a new program called ‘ReuseAbility’, that seeks to minimise the volume of textiles and other objects going landfill.
The program aims to divert more than 150 tonnes of textiles and bric-a-brac from landfill.
The partnership was formed after IEC received an EPA grant to help Willing & Able run their program locally.
The Port Macquarie Hastings Council has supported this program by offering its waste transfer stations as collection points for people to donate used goods and provided its Waste Info App to use as a booking system for collections.
Quality donation stations have been installed at five waste transfer stations in Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Comboyne, Kew and Cairncross for residents to deposit linen, clothing, or bric-a-brac that are still in good condition.
Alternatively, residents cant take their clothing, linen, or bric-a-brac to the Willing & Able Op Shop at Port Macquarie. Quality items are then resold, with leftover materials being recycled in rags for sale.
Council’s Acting Waste Manager Sean McKinnon said the ReuseAbility Program supports Council’s vision of becoming environmentally sustainable.
“ReuseAbility helps to promote a common shared goal of creating better awareness around environmental sustainability,” he said. “Not only does this cause promote better environmental outcomes, but it also helps to facilitate important employment opportunities and social connectedness.”
Willing & Able also provide employment for adults with intellectual disabilities, and every donation made helps provide meaningful paid employment.
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