DOING their part for the environment, Hallmont Estate residents have discovered creative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Early last year, estate resident Sally Andrew grew concerned about the large amount of disposable coffee cups the women’s morning coffee group was using during its regular catch-ups.
“My china mug was just sitting there in the cupboard along with the bag I have for it so I decided that I may as well use it, “Ms Andrew said.
“The girls just then followed suit, which is brilliant because it is less pollution.”
Resident Colleen Connell estimated the initiative had spared around 200 single use mugs from landfill per month since it started.
“They were keen to see the amount of mugs reduced as well as better use of our bins,” Ms Connell said.
“The main conversation was the mugs were not rotting down or were not rotting down for sometime, so the ladies decided to do something to reduce the amount of rubbish going in landfill.”
The estate also collects batteries to take to the Waste Transfer Station to be reused.
“We also take our globe lights and fluorescent lights to Mitre 10 here in Mount Gambier to be reused and we gift our old reading glasses to the Lions Club,” Ms Connell said.
“Next we are hoping to collect and reuse the old mobile phones.”
With a large skip bin for green waste, along with a recycling bin at all 170 homes, Ms Connell said estate residents were doing their best to reduce their environmental footprint, with many more ideas coming to light.
“We enjoy our morning coffee,” Ms Andrew said.
“And the coffee tastes better out of a mug rather than the single use cups anyway.”
Estate residents are also gearing up to give back as they prepare for their own Biggest Morning Tea on May 30.
Tickets are $5, with raffles and door prizes available.
