Port Macquarie retirees putting bottles to good use

A group of Port Macquarie retirees is making a difference for local charities with a recycling program for used bottles and batteries.

After almost a decade of recycling, Bolton Clarke Broadwater Gardens residents are now reducing waste more than ever to raise funds for community groups.

Longtime resident Trevor and his wife Margaret are leading the initiative in the village with some easy fixes to make recycling simple for their fellow residents.

“When we first started, we only had one bin at the clubhouse for recyclable bottles and cans so I put extra bins at every bin bay to collect more,” Trevor said.

“We were also putting what we had through the Return and Earn machines ourselves until I contacted Willing and Able Foundation - a local community group who now collect our recyclables.

“We have now started recycling batteries and ink cartridges, and collecting the plastic lids of bottles for Lids for Kids.”

National Recycling Week (11 – 17 November) aims to educate and empower Australians to reduce, reuse and recycle which is exactly what the residents of Broadwater Gardens are doing.

Residents are now making recycled donations almost every month and Trevor says it’s saving about two wheelie bins-worth of waste each donation. 

“We are helping local charities while doing our bit for the environment.

“My wife and I like to get involved, we have always been involved in things around our life – I just like being with people.

“Our village is really involved and everyone paritipates where they can.”