Reducing, reusing and recycling household items is fundamental to living sustainably. Luckily for Northern Beaches locals, a growing number of local organisations are making it easier for us all to achieve this goal.
Help celebrate the latest group of local waste warriors who deserve a shout out for putting their best environmental foot forward.
Zero-waste groceries
Single use food packaging is a huge part of our household waste. But shopping at Manly Food Co-Operative means you can buy groceries and make a positive impact on the planet too. For decades the community owned grocery store has been offering bulk food staples, fresh organic produce and zero-waste-shopping. With plenty of resources, engaging conversations and hands-on workshops, it’s easy to learn how to live and eat more sustainably.
A candle collection
Love a candle or two but are frustrated that you can’t recycle your empty candle containers in your yellow bin? Head down to CandleXchange, a Brookie-based business offering a unique ‘return & swap’ solution for customers. Simply return your empty candle containers and take home discounted new, hand-poured products made on site with zero-waste production.
Fashion forward
With Australia topping the world leader board in fashion waste per capita, a Frenchs Forest business can help you upskill your way to becoming a responsible style icon. Through Second Life Upcycling you can learn how to make clothes from recycled fabrics, repurpose items you no longer want and alter clothes to fit rather than sending them to landfill. You can even book a guided thrift shop tour to pick up tips and tricks on successful second-hand shopping. Refresh your style, save money and reduce waste.
Carry on
Witnessing single use plastic waste on Asian beaches shocked Molly Linton into action. On relocating to Manly, she launched a fashion collection to reuse that rubbish, and My Funky Bags was born. Plastic water bottles have been cleverly transformed into gorgeous tote bags and baskets of all shapes, sizes and hues. With a vison not just to create a trend but to launch a movement towards a more sustainable future. Purchasing a funky bag means making a statement: ‘I care about the planet and my style’!
Small but mighty
And finally, a shout out to the young sustainability leaders at Wheeler Heights Public School making mighty efforts to inspire their school community to be more sustainable. Using obsolete Council event banners, students cleverly designed and made bespoke protective tabards for their school composting ad worm farming duties. They’ve also made Oztag velcro tags for their Oztag games at school and made Bilby tails from donated black fabric, curtains and cushion filling. The tails were proudly worn by kindy students at the school’s Easter hat parade.
Help showcase local legends
If you're running initiatives aligned with Council’s Waste and Circular Economy Strategy - or know an organisation that is - and would like to be featured in marketing activities to promote sustainable living, get involved!
To help showcase community-driven ideas and initiatives that make the circular economy easier and more accessible to embrace, we’re inviting businesses, charities, and community groups to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).