Circular Economy

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Recycled Domestic Goods

Where ever possible surplus reusable domestic goods should be recycled. The thing that makes Rotary special, the projects are run by volunteers and there is no wage bill. With the exception of Op Shops all donations are given to someone in need. Op Shop profits are use to fund Rotary Projects.

Recycled Fashion

In Australia alone, more than 500,000 tonnes of textiles and leather end up in landfill each year. This ‘single use’ mentality has hufge environmental costs not just with landfill, but the resources to produce the clothes. The global average water footprint for 1kg of cotton is 10,000 litres.

Food Waste

Food waste is a crisis for Australians, who throw away a shocking 3.1 million tonnes of edible food each year. and New Zealanders almost 230,000 Tonnes. As thi sorganic waste breaks down it foprms Methane which is a potent greenhouse gas. Project Drawdown identifies Food Waste as the number 1 Global Climate Solution opportunity.

Recycled Medical Equipment

Australian and New Zealanders are very lucky to live in countries that can afford to upgrade Medical Equipment well before its “Use by Date”. Much of it is perfect for our neighbours and repurposing and shipping equipment can dramatically improve medical care in neighboring regions, whether hospital beds, hearing aids, spectacles, dental equipment or more sophisticated medical instruments.

Recycled Educational Goods

Reusable school equipment, text books and supplies can be saved from landfill and recycled for re-sale, or donations to those in need either locally or overseas

Recycled Computers and other eWaste

eWaste is a very significant landfill problem and is very well suited to Circular Economy processes of re-use, refurbish and dismantling and recycling parts for localk and overseas use. Access to Computers and Smartphones for education is an excellent enabler in developing nations. Rotary is particularly well placed to run its own Volunteer programs and to partner with commercial operations that have the skills and processes to refurbish and recycle.

Recycled Business Goods

Often, for commercial reasons, new goods are withdrawn from sale and have to be disposed of in a responsible way. Rotary is a business-based organisation and understands corporate imperatives with disposal and write-off of goods and equipment. Every organization wishes to be perceived as a responsible corporate citizen. Rotary provides businesses with the opportunity to turn their waste into a repurposed gift and to be seen as recycling heroes.