National Recycling Week
Hold A Recycling Drive
One-off or periodic recycling events can be a good way to supplement the permanent, day-to-day recycling systems within your workplace, support a community initiative and have fun at the same time!
Clothing Drives
A clothing drive at work can be a good trigger for colleagues to round up their unwanted clothes and bring them in to donate to charity. Some of the larger charities have systems in place to provide collection bags and a pick-up service for workplace clothing drives.
Charities will use the donated clothing to provide needed items to clients, or sell them to raise funds for their charitable programs.
Search for charities in your area on RecyclingNearYou.
Some charities specialise in clothing donation programs.
- Dress For Success and Fitted For Work are two clothing donation programs that specialise in women's business attire. Both programs help women experiencing disadvantage to find work and keep it, by providing free professional attire, career mentoring and development, and transition-to-work programs.
- Shoes For Planet Earth is a non-profit organisation that works with local and international communities and companies to provide reused running shoes to those in need around the world. They have drop-off locations in NSW, VIC and QLD. As well as running shoes (no broken soles or holes please) they're also happy to accept insoles and spare laces.
- Uplift Bras collects new and second hand bras and sends them wherever needed. For women in the developing world a bra is often unobtainable or unaffordable. In 2011, bras were sent to the Philippines, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Northern Territory. Uplift Bras have drop-off collection points in all Australian states and territories.
Swap Parties
At a swap party, a group of people get together to swap items such as books, clothes, toys and sports equipment. Swap parties are a great way to acquire ‘new' things, at little or no cost to you or the environment. Workplace swap parties can range from a one-hour lunchtime event to a week-long book swap.
For a comprehensive guide on hosting a swap party, plus resources such as posters and tokens, see our Big Aussie Swap pages.
Friday File Fling
Only around 1 in every 10 sheets of office paper gets recycled. Much of it ends up 'stored' in files that will never be read again. By hosting a Friday File Fling, you can declutter your office and get good, reusable office paper back into circulation.
Friday File Flings are a great team engagement activity to hold anytime throughout the year. All you need to do is set some time aside and encourage your team, office, or organisation to clear out their files and get good quality office paper back in to circulation. Fridays are great, as it's easier to get staff involved and to combine the fling with afternoon tea or drinks.
For information and resources on how to host a Friday File Fling, visit our Friday File Fling pages.
Collections for sight and reading glasses
Your unwanted reading, sight or sunglasses can help improve the eyesight of children and adults all around the world.
Collected glasses are distributed worldwide to communities in need. In some of these communities an eye exam can cost a month's wages, consequently poor eyesight often goes untreated, leading to further complications. The simple donation of unwanted glasses can make a huge difference to someone living in less fortunate circumstances.
OneSight and Recycle for Sight are programs in Australia that collect and redistribute eyeglasses to people in need, often in developing countries. Contact them to find out how your workplace can help.
