Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week is being held this week (November 8-14) and Mount Gambier City Council is joining the campaign.

Activities designed to encourage the community to reduce waste and recycle right will be on offer throughout the week, ranging from recycling tours, late night op shopping, educational webinar, upcycling workshops and papermaking classes.

Council’s Environmental Sustainability Officer Aaron Izzard said community members were invited to participate in the activities on offer which aim to demonstrate the value of various resources by giving them a second life through reuse and recycling.

“Reducing our waste not only keeps valuable materials out of landfill, it also benefits the environment by reducing our need for new materials.

“Reducing and reusing can also save you money at home and in the workplace,” he said.

The program of activities kicked off yesterday with a tour of two local plastic recycling operations, Tenison Woods College Precious Plastics Program and Ecoplas, located at the Waste Transfer Station.

In addition, local waste reduction advocate Trudy-Anne Doyle has organised the Late Night Op Shopping event tonight from 4pm to 7pm, followed by an open day tomorrow at the Mount Gambier ReUse Market from 10am to 1pm.

“Make a start on your Christmas shopping at local op shops and make 2021 an eco-friendly Christmas – buy your Kris Kringle gifts, presents, decorations, table napery and even summer clothes,” Mr Izzard said.

Mount Gambier Library will host a free ‘Waste Not!’ upcycling workshop on Thursday at 10:30am.

Participants can watch and learn as library staff demonstrate how to make unique gift ideas with items usually destined for landfill, the compost or recycling bin including body scrubs, bunting, planter boxes and more.

“I’m excited to help residents reduce their impact on the environment through teaching residents to upcycle for re-use items usually destined for the bin,” Mount Gambier Library Assistant and upcycling enthusiast Susan Briffa said.

To finish off the week, The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre is hosting papermaking workshops on Saturday with local artist Chrissy Pudney for both children and adults.

“Chrissy will introduce children to the basic method of making paper using recycled products, encouraging them to experiment with colour and decoration, while in the afternoon she will run a class for adults,” Mr Izzard said.