Think back over the last year at all the promotional material you have come across: balloons with real estate logos printed on them, free stubbie holders with purchase of specially marked beers, magnets in the mail for the local pest controller… Countless, right? Ever wondered where all these perfectly good items go when the promotion is over? Yep, most likely landfill - such a waste. Thankfully
Reverse Garbage offers an environmentally friendly alternative.
Championing the old adage 'one person's junk is another one's treasure' since 1974, Reverse Garbage is a not-for-profit organisation promoting Creative Re-use, which is sort of like an afterlife for industrial and commercial discards. The centre operates out of a warehouse within the
Addison Rd Community Centre in Marrickville. Inside you can find all manner of goods such as off-cuts and over-runs for a pittance.
Items change from day to day, depending on what has been donated to the organisation. When I went recently there was a wide variety from the useful to the unusual, such as coat hangers, old movie film canisters, material samples, sunglass cases and 'dial thingies'. It's a great pit stop before a crafternoon with the kids, or for making costumes and theatre props on a budget (in fact you can often find left over
props and decorations from other productions).
The centre is also associated with
Sustainable Design artists, and has opened up the
M.A.D. Gallery (Make a Difference) next door to showcase cutting edge pieces. The artists re-use found objects to create innovative jewellery, homewares and artworks – the gallery currently has this impressive
army tank made of filing cabinets on display out the front.
The centre saves 10,000 cubic meters of waste from going to landfill annually. If you run a business or organisation and would like to donate any excess product or off-cuts, then have a look
here to see what items they do and don't accept. They take a huge variety of products, so even if you don't see yours listed, give them a call to discuss it's potential re-use. A pick-up service can also be arranged for bulk donations.
Reverse Garbage is open Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm, and 10am – 4pm on Sunday. If you plan to make a visit to the centre, try and make it coincide with the
Sunday Organic Food Markets which are also held at the Addison Rd Community Centre.
