National Recycling Week 2024 was one to celebrate, with our community stepping up as true Everyday Recycling Heroes!
From pop-up events and hands-on workshops to record-breaking efforts in the Garage Sale Trail, here’s how we all came together to make an impact:
Everyday Recycling Hero Pop Up events
Our Education Team hit the road with five pop-up sessions across the region, sparking conversations about thinking beyond the yellow bin in our recycling efforts. Over 200 people stopped by to chat about how to use their household bins correctly and learn ways to not just recycle right but recycle more. Our Everyday Hero competition was also a hit, generating over 100 pledges that directly support smarter recycling and waste reduction.
The most popular pledge, chosen by 26% of participants, was to “get the yellow bin right” – a crucial step in reducing contamination and ensuring recyclables are properly processed.
Another popular choice (19%) was recycling batteries by dropping them off at designated collection points. Batteries can’t go in household bins but can be safely recycled to protect the environment and recover valuable materials.
Other pledges included using reusable coffee cups, purchasing recycled products, and taking tricky to recycle items drop-off locations.
Each of these actions add up to big environmental benefits, showcasing our community’s commitment to smarter recycling.
Everyone who lodged a pledge went in the draw to win a prize pack of locally purchased products made from recycled materials. Our lucky winners have now been notified. See our National Recycling Week page for details.
AUSMAP Launch: Tackling Microplastics Head-On
This year, we proudly launched the AUSMAP Microplastics Project, thanks to a collaboration between Council and Hastings Enviro. This exciting initiative kicked off with three events across November 7–9, bringing AUSMAP facilitators to town and drawing more than 40 participants, including local volunteers, teachers, and community members.
21 attendees of our training day are now accredited microplastics data collectors, meaning they’re equipped to monitor and record microplastics found on local beaches and estuaries. Our training day included a collection on Lighthouse Beach which recorded 14 microplastics per square metre, classified as low level of pollution. The most common finds were hard plastic fragments (50%) and foam (29%).
We also hosted a Community Day with AUSMAP facilitators, inviting community members to experience the collection process. While the microplastics count was very low ( an average of 5 pieces per square metre), cigarette butts were the most commonly collected litter.
With the Hastings Enviro team acting as a local hub for equipment kits, this initiative empowers the community, including students, to make a direct impact on the health of our coastline.
Turning the Tide on Ocean Plastics
In a hands-on Turning the Tide on Ocean Plastics workshop at MakerSpace, 19 passionate participants explored the realities of plastic pollution and how to take action. Council’s Waste Project Officer, Corrine De Mestre, delivered a thought-provoking talk on the issue, sparking engaging discussions among attendees about reducing our plastic use.
Participants then rolled up their sleeves for two creative and practical activities: transforming bottle tops into recycled products using our mini shredder and extruder, then sifting through sand to identify microplastics, replicating what might be found on our local beaches. The workshop encouraged participants to take action in their daily lives, with one attendee sharing with us it inspired him to begin collecting litter during his daily walk.
This workshop will become a part of our Schools and Community Education programs next year, providing more opportunities for hands-on learning and action.
Number one Council in Australia on the Garage Sale Trail
Together, our Waste and Communications team have helped our region lead the way in participation in the national Garage Sale Trail – Australia’s biggest secondhand treasure hunt!
There were 254 sales registered over the two weekends, which included a Car Boot Sale at the Foreshore Markets and other group sales (Port Macquarie Men’s Shed and Douglas Vale Historic Homestead and Vineyard) with 60,142 items up for sale and 113,284 kilos of potential waste projected to be reused and kept out of landfill.
It is excellent to see the support the region has thrown behind this year’s Garage Sale Trail and demonstrates the community is motivated to make a change from our typical consumer behaviour by rehoming and recycling goods.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will be supporting the Garage Sale Trail again in 2025.
Recycle Right with Timmy Hastings
Our youngest Everyday Recycling Heroes got involved too! Timmy Hastings, our Waste Warrior mascot, wrapped up the week with visits to eight Early Years centres, engaging over 200 children in fun and interactive recycling sessions.
Timmy and our Educators introduced children to the basics of reducing, reusing, and recycling in a way that was both educational and entertaining. The children learned to spot the triangle symbol on hard plastics to identify recyclable items and sang a fun song to help remember other recyclables that belong in the yellow bin.
Thank you to everyone who joined us during National Recycling Week and contributed to these amazing successes. Together, we’ve proven that small, everyday actions can make a big difference for our community and the environment!
