A new program being rolled out across Vinnies stores in Victoria is expected to give a second life to 100,000 electrical items, ABC News reports.
The St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria has trained 200 Green Sparks volunteers to test and tag electrical goods that were once bound for landfill. The items would then be resold via the charity’s shops.
The initiative will be rolled out in more than 100 Vinnies shops and comes after e-waste was banned from Victoria’s landfills in 2019.
E-waste was found to be growing up to three times faster than general municipal waste in Australia.
The category includes any device that has a plug, battery or power cord, including televisions, computers, mobile phones, kitchen appliances and whitegoods.
“We are actually diverting 100,000 electrical items to reuse just here in Victoria,” said Jeff Antcliff, Vinnies Victoria’s executive general manager of commercial services.
“On top of that, there’s also 100 tonnes that we are sending to recycling that is also being diverted away from landfill.
“So it’s an absolute win-win for the community and it’s a win-win for the environment.”
The project was propelled along with the help of a $250,000 grant from the Recycling Victoria Communities Fund, which is delivered by Sustainability Victoria on behalf of the state government.
Mr Antcliff said the program was being rolled out at a time when more people were seeking cheaper electrical goods options given the inflationary economic environment.
All profits from the sale of recycled electronic goods will support St Vincent de Paul Victoria’s frontline support services for people in need.
FULL STORY
Vinnies stores in Victoria to begin selling second hand electrical items, whitegoods (ABC News)
PHOTO
Vinnies Green Sparks volunteer Anthony Hanna (St Vincent De Paul Society)
