This National Recycling Week we’re launching an ongoing series of talks with sustainability advocates and organisations that we have partnered with to drive environmental and social goals within the community.

We’re highlighting and celebrating the people who are fighting the good fight, through the simple act of recycling within their spheres of influence. We hope you find inspiration from these local heroes!

SUPPORTING LOCAL SURF LIFE-SAVING CLUBS

National Recycling Week: Guest Laurie Boyle from Warilla-Barrack Point Surf Life Saving Club.

“Look I can remember before this started… some of the stuff you used to see washed up were plastic bottles and cans…. What you don’t want is pollution, bottles and cans or plastics in the surf.” – Laurie Boyle, Warilla-Barrack Point Surf Life Saving Club

Laurie has been serving his local surf club for 50 years!

Tune in to a chat between Envirobank’s Bronte Abrahams and local hero Laurie Boyle from Warilla-Barrack Point Surf Life Saving Club. Bronte and Laurie discuss how his surf club have set up an effective recycling process, changed habits in the community, what the club uses the funds for and the impacts of recycling on coastline litter that he has seen over the years.

Envirobank supports a number of NSW and QLD local surf life saving clubs, by helping them keep their beaches clean and raise funds through recycling bottles and cans through the container deposit schemes “Containers for Change” (QLD) and “Return and Earn” (NSW). This year alone, Laurie’s club has recycled over 12,240 containers with us, raising over $1,000 for the club. Just from diverting eligible containers from other waste streams and putting them back in the circular economy, they’ve helped reduce carbon emissions by 2 tonnes.

“What you don’t want is pollution, bottles and cans or plastics in the surf.”

Laurie is a real steward of the ocean (for almost half a century!). If you’re a local surf club, school or a community group and you’re interested in getting involved with recycling to not only protect our environment but also raise funds, get in touch with us.

Image credit: Warilla-Barrack Point surf coat crew at Warilla Beach surf carnival c.1960s. Dennis Jordan, Lod Leggett, Vic Strong, Carig Leggett, Colin Doherty. Donated by Ron Strong.