Changing throw-away habits can reduce, reuse and recycle

Published on 28 October 2021

With National Recycling Week just around the corner, the Liverpool Plains Shire Council is appealing to locals to consider alternative methods of disposing unwanted goods, which can provide benefits to many others.

LPSC General Manager Jo Sangster said one positive change easy to adopt some of the ideas used by the Quirindi Country Women’s Association (CWA).

The CWA’s Colleen Wills said one major concern her organisation had become aware of was the disposal of clothing, towels, blankets and other fabrics.

“Instead of sending these articles to landfill there are many alternatives. Op shops like St Vincent de Paul which has a big presence in Quirindi and Werris Creek, or the Assembly of God shop is a great choice,” Ms Wills said.

“The CWA forwards preloved clothing the organisation to Op shops in the Northern Territory and WA is used to encourage the skills of indigenous women in those states.

“Old towels and blankets that are unsaleable go to the local veterinarians for use with its patients, while cotton clothing which is unsaleable can be used as dusters by mechanics and other tradies.

“Old reading glasses can be left at the Chemist or Lions club for distribution to overseas organisations and used postage stamps can be forwarded to various groups for resale.

“Leftover wool is used to make up rugs etc for the homeless, while one member collects cans and donates the funds for worthy projects.

“You can also donate leftover items such as paper pencils etc to pre-schools and day-care for craft projects while other suitable items are made up into pamper packs for domestic violence victims,” Ms Wills said.

Ms Sangster said the more locals thought about how they disposed of their rubbish, the better the community and the future of landfill disposal would benefit.

She said the Willow Tree landfill that will serve the entire LPSC local government area, due to open in 2023 is estimated to have a life of 30 years.

“Just by halving the amount of rubbish we put into this landfill, we can effectively double the life of this landfill facility,” she said.

National Recycling Week is held from 8 November to 14 November.