Social enterprise Resource Recovery Australia (RRA) is partnering with Noosa Shire Council to show locals how easy it is to reduce their environmental impact.
This year’s World Environment Day theme reminded every individual that they have the power to spark change.
RRA Noosa Manager, Mitchell McIntyre said change could be as simple as reusing, buying second-hand or recycling problem waste.
“Choosing to purchase second-hand goods has a great impact on the environment because manufacturing is the most energy and resource-intensive part of the product lifecycle,” Mr McIntyre said.
“Expanded polystyrene is a particularly problematic waste. It is lightweight and common in packaging, but it takes up to 500 years to break down and can leach harmful chemicals into our environment.
“Noosa Shire Council has engaged the RRA team to process polystyrene for recycling. This means more green jobs for our region and a great recycling outcome for polystyrene waste.“
Noosa Council’s Acting Waste Coordinator, Mark Borgert, said processing the polystyrene for recycling on site was saving money on polystyrene transport costs and conserving storage space at the waste facility.
“With the machine now up and running the RRA team can fire it up as soon as large quantities of polystyrene come in, which also helps reduce the chance of polystyrene litter blowing about the waste facility and entering the environment,” he said.
The processed polystyrene is recycled into a great range of products, from toys to park benches and even insulation, ensuring the polystyrene doesn’t end up in landfill or in our waterways.
“We’ve been working with Noosa Shire Council since 2018 with the Reviva Noosa reuse shop and mattress recycling, and now, we have expanded to provide polystyrene processing,” Mr McIntyre said.
“Each of the services we provide to the Noosa community diverts waste from landfill and creates local, green jobs in what we call #Waste2Wages.”
RRA’s #Waste2Wages initiative creates jobs for locals experiencing barriers to work by diverting waste from landfill.
“Over 75 per cent of our team were experiencing barriers to work when they started their job. With every mattress recycled, piece of expanded polystyrene that is processed, or second-hand item that is sold our community is supporting local jobs and our environment. It’s a win-win-win,“ he said.
You can recycle your polystyrene and mattresses at Eumundi Waste Management Centre, seven days per week.
Reviva Noosa reuse shop is open from 8:30am to 4pm, and stocks a great range of quality second-hand goods, including furniture, homewares, hardware and tools.
