THE Mount Gambier ReUse Market was open for the first time today between 10am and 2pm.
Located at 3 Eucalypt Drive, the ReUse Market will sell second hand goods and reduce waste going to landfill by reusing and upcycling useful items.
Following the recruitment of market coordinator Rebecca Mobbs earlier this year, the project has been full steam ahead with two staff members appointed to the team.
Tanis Alexander was recently appointed to the position of ReUse Market attendant, with 15 years experience working at the waste transfer station.
Tanis was instrumental in many of the changes implemented at the station, including the use of cages to separate cardboard from waste and the separation of mattresses, couches and chairs to divert large items from landfill.
“The ReUse Market is my dream, it is really rewarding to see all these products not going to landfill and see the weight of the skip bins from the waste transfer station going down each month,” Ms Alexander said.
“I am looking forward to sharing my vision and knowledge of ways in which we can reduce landfill and I really hope to see the public respond to the ReUse Market with as much passion as I have.”
Michael Satterley has joined the team as an attendant following more than four years at a similar facility in Darwin and a stint at Veolia.
Mr Satterley said he was motivated to apply for the position after seeing the volume of useful goods headed for landfill.
“Much like the ReUse Market, the objective at the Northern Territory Recycling Solutions was to save items going to landfill, so when the opportunity came up to work in a similar facility here in Mount Gambier, I thought it was a great fit for me,” he said.
“It is so rewarding to see items upcycled, fixed or resold for further use.
“I love dealing with the public and I’m looking forward to the opening so I can resell items to good homes where they can be upcycled, reused and cherished for many years to come.
“Most rewarding of all is knowing that we are saving the environment from as much landfill as possible.”
Ms Mobbs said staff had been working hard with volunteers from the Independent Learning Centre to prepare the facility for operation.
“It has been a busy and challenging time here and it has been great to see both staff and volunteers really embrace the work and the ethos behind the market,” she said.
“If you have anything at home you are not using, whether it be bikes, furniture, tools, bric-a-brac, spare parts, building materials or anything second hand in good condition, please consider donating it to the ReUse Market.”
Unwanted, good quality items can be donated at the waste transfer station for free for resale at the ReUse Market.
The ReUse Market will be open every second Saturday from November 10 between 2pm and 5pm, with an official opening event scheduled for December 8.
