By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council will install e-waste and clothing drop-off bins at three locations as part of a new trial.
E-waste and clothing drop-off hubs will be set up at Manor Lakes Community Learning Centre, Wyndham Park Community Centre and Arndell Park Community Centre as part of a three month trial.
Wyndham’s environment and sustainability portfolio holder, Cr Heather Marcus, said the trial would give residents a convenient way to recycle used electronic items and old clothing.
“The drop-off sites will have secure bins for residents to recycle their small e-waste items such as laptops and electrical appliances as well as clothing, toys and textiles including shoes and handbags,” she said. “To reduce the risk of illegal dumping, these bins are equipped with sensors to notify collection drivers when they are getting close to capacity.”
The council will be working with the SCRgroup, one of Australia’s largest clothing reuse and recycling companies, which sends the unwanted clothing to developing countries and provides employment opportunities for people living with a disability.
According to Sustainability Victoria, recycling clothing can help to conserve raw materials, save water and energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and landfill and provide affordable clothing to families and individuals in need.
In addition, Australians produce an estimated 140,000 tonnes of e-waste each year, but only about four per cent of this is recycled. On average, a family of five will discard about 1.4 tonnes of e-waste every 10 years, including monitors, batteries and printers.
