Introducing Planet Ark's Recycling Campaigns Manager Hailey Durham 🌳♻️

As you probably know, last week was National Recycling Week—a fantastic initiative founded by Planet Ark back in 1996 that’s still going strong today. It’s a great opportunity for all of us to take a step back, reflect on our sustainability and recycling habits, and come together to make smarter choices for the future.

We were thrilled to have a chat with Planet Arks’ Recycling Campaigns Manager Hailey Durham. She shared her thoughts on National Recycling Week, the importance of recycling, and gave us some top-notch tips to level up our recycling game! 

Hailey Durham, Recycling Campaigns Manager for Planet Ark

The call to action for National Recycling Week is “Join The Cycle” – what does this mean and how can Aussies get involved?”

We’re talking about keeping objects and materials in use over and over again, instead of sending them to waste in landfill. Not only by recycling, but all the R’s that come before it- Reducing, reusing, rethinking, repurposing, repairing. When thinking about new or old objects, clothes, electronics or packaging, there are many ways we can all Join The Cycle.  When things  are re-used for the same purpose, re-purposed or repaired to use again, we are saving valuable energy and resources. If the item needs to be recycled, the materials can be used to create new things. By taking these actions, all of these materials are kept in the cycle.

We all know recycling is important, but what are some common recycling mistakes people still make?

Many people assume their home or “kerbside” recycling service is the one stop-shop for all their recycling or repurposing needs- and it simply isn’t designed like that. The household recycling service is mostly for household packaging, never other things like your old clothes, batteries or lightbulbs! You need to drop these sorts of items at your local op-shop or community recycling centre, or alternative drop off point. (Check out RecyclingNearYou.com.au for alternatives in your area)

Image courtesy of Planet Ark

Give us your best recycling or upcycling tip?

Recycling- aluminium foil can be recycled, if it’s clean, and scrunched up into a ball about the size of a golf ball, so keep your bits of al-foil (mine is usually from a block of chocolate) and add to your ball until it reaches that size.

How can workplaces get involved in National Recycling Week? Any easy ideas to bring some recycling action into the office?

We have tons of resources available for workplaces available on our site, including ready-to-go lunch and learn presentations, trivia and signage. With one of our themes being clothing this year, something we’re doing in our office is challenging everyone to wear second-hand or clothing they’ve had for years for the week! 

If people take away just one message from National Recycling Week, what would you want it to be?

Start where you can! If you pick up one good recycling or waste reduction habit this National Recycling Week, that’s amazing. It’s not feasible to go from zero to green immediately, so just change one habit at a time in your lifestyle or household and go from there.

For more information on Planet Ark head to https://planetark.org/