A whopping 1890kg of unwanted textile products were prevented from going to landfill a month after starting Strathbogie Shire Council’s operation of Textile Recovery Boxes.
The boxes landed at council’s transfer stations in November last year, and by December 31, partner Upcycle4Better provided the data.
Residents can drop off unwanted items, such as clothing, footwear and blankets, at the Avenel, Nagambie, Euroa and Violet Town transfer stations for free.
Council administrator Peter Stephenson gave a big shout-out to the Violet Town community for contributing more than half of the total.
“It’s a true credit to our residents who have taken the time to drop off their unwanted textiles to ensure they receive a new lease on life,” he said.
Textiles collected in the recovery boxes are sent to a sorting facility and categorised into over 500 different streams.
The team at U4B prioritises reusing items initially, as it requires little or no resources to keep products in use.
When the items are repairable, U4B will work to give a fresh look to otherwise re-wearable items so they can head back into local shops for the community.
The second priority goes to upcycling, which means garments or textiles are deconstructed, with, for example, zippers taken off or buttons and trims removed, to have their parts reused differently.
These items can be made into bags, hats, pet beds and many other items offered to zero-waste stores and charities.
You can find more information about the initiative at www.strathbogie.vic.gov.au/services/rubbish/transfer-stations/