ReuseAbility was a locally driven project with the aim of diverting more than 150 tonnes of textiles and bric-a-brac from landfill.
“Giving unwanted textiles and bric-a-brac a second life”.
We Need Your Help
Did you know that after the USA, Australians are the world’s largest consumers of new textiles? The Australasian Circular Textile Association estimates that nearly one million tonnes of leather and textiles end up in Australian landfill facilities each year. The average Australian contributes close to 40kg of textile waste.
You can help our region continue to achieve our ambitious targets by donating textiles (clothing, linen, soft toys) and bric-a-brac to Willing & Able.
How do I donate?
Local residents have always been able to drop off donations at Willing & Able’s Op Shop or to call and request a collection/pickup.
This project helped us develop an online collection/pick up request form and new drop off locations have been introduced at the waste transfer stations across the region. With the help of Port Macquarie Hastings Council, you can also now request a collection/pick up via the Council’s Waste Info App.
For more information on what and how you can donate visit our FAQ page.
In June 2020 a local company, Impact Environmental Consulting, partnered with Willing & Able and Port Macquarie Hastings Council and applied for EPA Circulate Grant funding to increase community donations of textiles and bric-a-brac, resulting in greater diversion from landfill.
The circular economy of the Port Macquarie region will be strengthened with Willing & Able processing textiles onsite, returning them as clothes to their retail space, increasing their material recycling (rags) service and textiles sold to other social enterprises.
Additional benefits include the employment of adults living with disability.
