Riders wow Waste Not Awards

•  Riders wow awards: Lilydale District Pony Club riders with their winning trailer: top L-R: Erin Kelly, Matilda Cameron, Khiana Gilmartin, Abi Brooks, Sophie Binns and Ava Gilmartin. Bottom L-R: Ella Nast, Rubi Edwards, Maddison Oliver and Jade Binns.

By Taylor Clyne,
October 27, 2021

Lilydale riders have put their helmets together and come up with an innovative and functional way to recycle waste and it has secured them the overall title of the 2021 Waste Not Awards.

The not-for-profit club re-thought the way they could handle waste both at their monthly meets and regional events developing a recycling trailer to move around to each of their club events across the region. 

The trailer houses several 240-litre multi sort bins, which are labelled and put out for attendees to use, an idea that Lilydale District Pony Club parent Katrina Kelly said was made possible thanks to grants from Northern Waste Management and the Tasmanian Community Fund.

“We are very committed to the next generation at our club and as parents take the responsibility of looking after our planet very seriously, trying to do all we can to minimise our impact,” she said.

“We started actively encouraging recycling but soon felt our impact could be greater, rethinking the system we were using at our ride events on a property called Fairlands near Newnham that are attended by people from all over the state.

“There had to be a better way of sorting and taking the rubbish from these large-scale events so that’s where the idea of the trailer came.

“It’s very visual and the labelling is clear, the bins are very well used and multifunctional.”

At the end of an event, the items are taken to the Launceston Recycling Centre or in the case of organic waste, used to feed the chooks. 

The club also has a free refillable water station and hot drinks are discounted if attendees bring their own reusable cup.  

Scottsdale High School and tourism business Bridestowe Lavender Estate were also recipients of awards for sustainable programs they have implemented.

Scottsdale High has tackled soft plastic waste at the Stronach View Farm with a recycling station for all used silage wrap. 

Each year the Stronach View Farm makes around 20-40 bales, using approximately one to two rolls of silage wrap (2000m per roll), which used to end up in landfill.

“The idea was to begin to educate students of the need to recycle this resource and hopefully this will have a flow on effect in the Scottsdale area as students can influence the practices on their own farms,” teacher Kylie Rattray said. 

Bridestowe Lavender Estate invested in a cardboard perforator to create a more sustainable alternative to bubble wrap for packing its delicate products to customers. 

The equipment has enabled the firm to reuse and repurpose at least 20 cubic metres of shredded cardboard, salvaged from its stockpile of cardboard collected from incoming goods.