You might think that Sustainable Upper Ovens only encourages us all to save on our use of power by getting solar PV panels on rooftops, insulating our homes well and by moving towards community batteries, etc but you’d be wrong. Bright Community Garden, Boomerang Bags and Plasticwise are also included in this group. Together, these groups encourage us to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics – everything if possible. Local businesses are coming on board and Bright Laundry is an example.
This business donates sheets and pillowcases that are damaged to Petula Edwards from the Bright Uniting Church and who is also a member of Sustainable Upper Ovens. Petula recycles the materials. “I was delighted by their generosity,” Petula says. “Not only that, but some of the supply they gave me, we took to Melbourne for other groups to use to make handkerchiefs. Neene Gardner, Customer Relations Manager at Bright Laundry, has since contacted me and told me that she has found another charity in Melbourne – West Welcome Wagon, that make bags with items for refugees. A courier has agreed to deliver these reject sheets there free of charge. This is a win win for everyone.”
According to Neene, “Bright Laundry have installed 36 kilowatts of solar panels which is a 300% increase in our solar capacity, and we are also working with our clients to reduce the use of plastics where possible.”
The Bright Uniting Church also compile about 30 backpacks each year for Pacific Island school children. These include everything a child would need for school – pencils, pens, exercise books, drink bottle, soap, towel, etc as well as handkerchiefs. Church members contribute all these items which is quite an achievement, and make the handkerchiefs.
Petula Edwards argues that if we could all just take little steps like these, we are able to help, often in more ways than one. As such our main goal should be to reuse materials if possible. If not, then recycle but make sure this is done correctly. For example, find out about Redcycle for soft plastics at Woolworths Bright and Coles in Myrtleford. We all use plastic but if we CAN use a sustainable substitute in place of a single use one, then we SHOULD.
Sustainable Upper Ovens needs your support in our attempts to reduce rubbish, reuse things and recycle appropriately. Please consider becoming a member, come along to our meetings or have a chat at our stall at the Make It, Bake it, Grow it market. Everyone is always welcome.
If you would like to join Sustainable Upper Ovens click here for more details.
To contribute to the school backpacks for Pacific Island children, you can contact Petula on 0412199273.