Win, win for environment

Redcliffe Farmers and Artisan Markets visitors have helped recycle more than 9000 containers in the past year, reducing the number going to landfill and raising money for a community group which is also doing its bit for the environment.

Organisers of the Redcliffe Markets handed over a cheque for $901.20 to Repair Café Redcliffe Peninsula on Sunday, February 5.

It is the third year they have donated the proceeds of their partnership with Express Recycling Containers for Change to a community group with previous donations going to The Breakfast Club of Redcliffe ($350.50 in 2020) and The Moreton Bay Koala Rescue ($1001.40 in 2021).

Visitors to the markets are encouraged to place bottles and cans in blue wheelie bins throughout the market precinct and these are sent to Express Recycling for processing.

They are then recycled either to make more containers or used to help construct benches, bollards and even roads.

About Repair Café Redcliffe Peninsula

Repair Café Redcliffe Peninsula works with the community to repair items which would ordinarily end up in landfill.

Les Barkla, who founded the organisation in 2020, explains how it works: “We are part of an overall vision to connect Redcliffe Peninsula community through bringing people together, supporting a circular economy model, providing an opportunity for skill development, and reducing landfill.

“After 19 workshops, we have repaired 294 (65.5 per cent) of 454 items from our community, potentially diverting over 1.4 tonnes of equipment from landfill. Another important outcome is that we are stopping heavy metals, plastics, and toxic waste components getting into the environment.”

He says volunteers repair items that can be carried into the workshop such as most household electrical and electronic goods, woodwork, non-precious beaded jewellery, bikes, prams, walkers, sewing machines and knife sharpeners.

There is no charge for repairs, but donations are requested to go towards consumables, parts and café stock.

The money from Redcliffe Markets will be used to improve safety at the group’s workshops, allowing it to buy insulated rubber mats for its electrical repairers.

Repair Café Redcliffe Peninsula is based at Redcliffe City Clay Target Club, 267 Duffield Rd, Clontarf. It runs on the first Saturday of each month from 8.30-11.30am.

To make an appointment, click on the Try Booking link on the Repair Cafe Redcliffe Peninsula Facebook page.

The group is looking for volunteer repairers and helpers. To find out more, email [email protected] or connect via the Repair Cafe Redcliffe Peninsula Facebook page.