by Selma

People Can Make A Difference

I took some E-waste to Reverse Garbage today.

Read about what they do here.

They are an extraordinary organisation dedicated to recycling and reusing goods so that the amount of stuff ending up in landfill is reduced.

I donated a computer monitor, two televisions and a DVD player which will be sold in their shop or given to disadvantaged families.

It made me feel really good that my stuff can be reused and won’t just end up in a pile of rubbish somewhere.

One of the staff there told me that most of the people who buy things from them end up donating them back when they are finished with them or when they get back on their feet. So the chain of reuse continues.

Last year Reverse Garbage was able to refurbish enough computers to donate them to disadvantaged schools in places like Bangladesh.

They do such good work and receive limited government funding. It’s just outrageous.

Sometimes most of the time the Australian government needs a kick up the backside.

Reverse Garbage made me realise there are some worthwhile environmental programs out there that are actually working. It’s a good feeling.

People CAN make a difference.

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26 thoughts on “People Can Make A Difference”

  6. Hi MELEAH:
    I am all for it, especially if it helps disadvantaged people. Makes me feel better about getting rid of my old stuff.

    Hi MAMA ZEN:
    Please do, although I’m not sure what is available in your area. If you haven’t got a Reverse Garbage, Planet Ark could certainly help you.

    Hi LAURI:
    I was impressed by the level of commitment of the staff. They originally set it up to recycle and reuse old industrial materials for art projects for schools. I heard about them originally when I was teaching. You could go there and get a huge box of paints, glue, coloured paper, cardboard and fun stuff like glitter and stickers for under twenty dollars. Once I put on a school play and built the sets from materials from RG for under 100 dollars. It was fantastic!

    Hi PUNATIK:
    It’s a really great thing. What seems to happen is that they have achieved one thing which makes them realise they can achieve something else and something else…..and so it goes on. It’s all good!

    Hi TEXASBLU:
    I just love it. I’m thinking about volunteering to help out there. I would really enjoy that!

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  7. Wish we had one up here. One of my biggest gripes with waste disposal is the incredible difficulty in getting rid of toxic waste (like batteries and the new low energy light bulbs containing mercury). Even in the cities you have to travel miles to get to places that deal with this stuff and most people just end up chucking it in the bin (lazy or don’t know any better because we don’t have any awareness campaigns about the stuff). The whole planet is being poisoned and next to nothing is being done about it.

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  8. Hi GABRIELLE:
    That bothers me a lot too. It’s one thing to save energy but it’s another to add to the toxicity of an already toxic planet by chucking out stuff like mercury. It just seems so stupid. My green mates will slay me for this, but in many ways I think the green movement is looking at the wrong issues. I think what we throw out is much more of an issue than say the level of carbon emissions that come from our car exhausts. Garbage really, really bothers me. One of our smoke alarms kept going off and we took it down to see if we could adjust it. It said DO NOT TAMPER WITH – RADIOACTIVE. It gave you a place to take it to if you wanted to throw it out which was a good hour and a half away from my place. How many people in a similar situation would just chuck it in the bin? That is sheer madness 🙄

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  9. I did wonder what happens to stuff in the ‘electricals’ skip down at the recycling centre. I’ll ask next time I’m down there … we’re going ‘all digital’ with our TV in a couple of months, and I’m going to toss the old analogue set in the spare bedroom.

    I took my old computer (the £1000 doorstop!) down to the computer shop last year. He said he would either refurb it, and donate it to charity, or strip it down for spare parts.

    There’s another picture of the Roman Bridge at Salamanca in ‘Pic of the Week’ this week.

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  11. Hi Selma,

    It’s good to read such a positive post about garbage, especially in light of recent not-so- positive news reports about how The Salvation Army is being forced to use funds to clean up useless garbage dumped (used syringes, soiled nappies, etc) at its stores and collection points.
    Cheers,
    David

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  12. What a great scheme.

    when I worked at the Uni here, they always recycled no-longer needed computers and gave them to schools and charities. No idea if they still do.

    Here, I use Freecycle a lot, although it pays to be wary as many people who use it are just car-booters and things. I always enter into a conversation with the people who offer to take things off my hands to check they are using them for themselves or for a good cause, not just selling them on.

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  13. I guess better late than never with the amount of rubbish we have created over the years. Shops continue to burst at the seams with more and more stuff. Will it ever end, the mass producing of more and more stuff. Look at all the stuff in those two dollar shops. Have you been to Spotlight lately? All that fabric and other sundry items. Some stuff being produced is good, and then there is stuff that I wonder who buys it.

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  14. Thanks for the inspiration Selma – I have some old computers that I am not really using. Oh, and a 21 inch CRT that weighs a ton! I am looking at some local non profits to donate them too – once I have wiped off all my personal information. You are right – if someone who needs them can use them, then why am I hanging on to them! Your last comment reminds me of the intro to an ’80s tv show called Knight Rider “One man can make a difference”.
    All joking aside though, you are right – people can make a difference, and I hope that your post inspires others to do so too.

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  16. Hi TRAVELRAT:
    That’s really great. I am all for old computers being broken down into component parts. My old PowerMac was a doorstop too – needed 2 people to lift it.

    I shall come and see your lovely bridge shortly.

    Hi ANTHONY:
    Slowly but surely we’re getting there. I remain hopeful.

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  17. Hi DAVID:
    That was shocking about the Salvo collection points, wasn’t it? I cannot fathom why anyone would do that. Outrageous.

    Hi RELUCS:
    Unis are usually very good about that kind of thing. I know many High Schools who do it. And sadly, the opportunists are part of the territory. They can’t resist a freebie.

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  18. Hi ROWE:
    Oh, yeah. Those two dollar shops should be banned. I reckon about 80% of the stuff bought from them gets thrown out in a month. It’s what I call landfill manufacturing. I try to avoid them at all costs.

    Hi MANOJ:
    In doing this the other day I became aware that there is a lot more hardship out there than I knew about. If I can help in some small way then I am glad.

    I remember the Knight Rider. Loved the car. And who doesn’t love The Hoff? 😀

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  25. Bravo I say! This sounds like a great organization. I’m convinced it is work like this that is changing the world – one old monitor at a time 🙂

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