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The Hills Reduce Reuse Recycle Directory
Electronic equipment
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TEXTILES
Textile waste is a huge problem. The War on Waste illustrated how Australians go through 6 tonnes of clothing in 10 minutes !! Opshops are flooded with donations, however they won't always manage to sell them in store, 25% of clothes sent to opshops end up in landfill . Giving quailty and buying from Op shops is a good way to reduce waste. BUT before donating clothes, consider the reduce, reuse, repair options below. H and M, Sherridan and UPPAREL now collect clothing and fabrics for reuse and recycling. See links below for these exciting new innovations.
REDUCE REUSE
Buy less, buy quality, make it last .
care for clothes, Stain removal tips
Clothes swap with friends or in the community. Host a Swap Party
Repair clothes - have clothes altered
Repurpose your clothes into new outfits or even into simple things like bags and wash cloths.
Purchase from Op shops and Recycled clothes shops at least some of your clothes and manchester.
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Buy Swap and Sell online or put it on a
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If buying new choose biodegradeable fibres organic cotton - uses less water chemicals.
Compost natural fibre rags past donating or recycle
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REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS
Upwey Sewing Centre Sandals rd Tecoma
9754 7326
Be Altered - 2A York Rd, Mount Evelyn
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Jennifer's Sewing and Alterations - Olinda
Alterations 0481 799 353
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Op Shops
There are 12+ Op shops on the mountain including Mt Evelyn, Monbulk, Emerald, Belgrave, Belgrave Sth Tecoma and Upwey and even more nearby. http://opshop.org/search plus salvos Tecoma. GIVE QUALITY and BUY FROM AN OPSHOP
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Also see The Remote OpShop Project to give to remote indigenous community Opshops
Upcycle
Turn your old towel into a bathmat, cleaning cloths or rags.
Upcycle your sheets into bags, pillow slips Explore crafts from, toys to pot holders, making memory cushions make a rag rug or just for wrapping presents.
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Great resources for upcylcing Facebook group Upcycleclothcollective
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Local Sharnn Watts of Earthwise crafts teaches rag rug making and is after clean brightly coloured COTTON sheets or doona covers. ( torn ok )
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Animal Aid Coldstream.. Towels, blankets ( no doonas) wool jumpers etc They will either be sold in their opshops or used as rags bedding etc for animals. Secondhand kennels and dog beds available by donation.
Woofpurnay Veterinary Hospital Towels
Narrewarren
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Recycle
Community Groups
Plastic Bag Free Dandenong Ranges
making boomerang bags from recycled material. .Bright coloured fabric suitable for making bags can be donated via Belgrave or Ferntree Gully Library" Plastic Bag Free Dandenong Ranges send all their sewing scraps to Upparel, including cotton thread and overlocker threads.
Mount Evelyn Boomerang Bags making bags from recycled material.
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H & M Stores (Eastland and the Glen) will accept clothes or fabric in any condition for recycling, clothes that cannot be resold as secondhand clothes or rags will be turned into textile fibres for insulation. Use this service mindfully as recycling still takes energy and avoid the trap of buying more fast fashion.
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Sheridan Recycling program sheets towels quilt covers any brand via their boutique and studio stores. Cotton sheets are recycled into new fibres and non cotton are recycled into things like insulation. see site for store locations.
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UPPAREL Grew from recycling socks to upcycling clothes and most fabric They accept
Clothing items (jeans, shirts, coats, etc)
Hats
Wireless Bras
Socks and stockings
Shoes
Linen (bedding, towels, tea towels, etc ( no doonas)
Fabric mattress protectors (not waterproof/plastic)
Fabric off-cuts and sewing scraps
Fabric couch covers and curtains
Bathers & Swimwear
Wetsuits
They charge for pick up but you can get vouchers for participating stores.
For details see UPPAREL.com.au
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