Hello all GTCP friends! As noted on the Gnaraloo Bay Turtle Thermometer, the GTCP monitoring…
Recycling at Gnaraloo
When the new management team commenced operations at Gnaraloo during 2005, we identified the need for ‘reduce, reuse & recycling’ (RRR) initiatives to better manage the various waste streams being produced onsite through tourism and other activities, given the environmental sensitivity, biodiversity values and beauty of the area. We decided to focus on glass and aluminium cans as a first priority and in 2007 introduced an onsite recycling program to separate this material from other wastes through a new recycling bin system at 3Mile Campsite and at the Homestead area.
Whilst the initial RRR initiative has worked successfully and is well supported by guests and visitors, the separated recyclable glass and aluminium cans have had to be taken to onsite landfill areas, where it has remained as unsightly stockpiles, as there has not been the infrastructure or ability to remove the materials offsite for recycling. To overcome this frustration and start addressing the problem, Gnaraloo submitted a partnership proposal to Keep Australia Beautiful (KAB) during May 2011 to remove 10 tonnes of recyclable glass and aluminium cans from the landfill areas during 2011/12 for offsite recycling.
We would use labour from the Willing Workers on Organic Farms (Wwoofers) that regularly work onsite to sort, separate and process recyclable glass and cans at the onsite landfill areas. Recyclable glass would be placed into new glass recycling holding bins and recyclable aluminium cans would be crushed into aluminium blocks through use of a new mass can crusher machine. Once the recycling bins are full, Gnaraloo would transport them to offsite recycling facilities in Perth and elsewhere. Money made from sales of recyclable material would be reinvested into operation, continuation and further extension of the Gnaraloo RRR program in future.
Please keep your fingers crossed that we receive the requested contributory support from KAB, so that together with the funds that Gnaraloo will invest in this, we may start carting recyclable materials offsite as soon as possible!
Cheers, Karen