Free Clothing Donation Program a Success: Community Participation Diverts 12,850 Textiles From Landfill

Ararat Rural City Council is celebrating a major win for the environment, with a new recycling initiative that's already making a huge impact. 

In just two months, residents have helped divert an incredible 12,850 textiles from landfill. That's enough clothing to outfit every single person in Ararat more than twice over.

The program has prevented 1.3 million item-years of landfill persistence, equivalent of keeping waste out of the ground for longer than the entire recorded history of human civilization. The 3,142 kilograms of clothing collected is about the same weight as three fully loaded Toyota Hilux Utes. 

By diverting these items, the community has also avoided 5.1 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, which is like preventing the burning of over 2,200 litres of petrol. This positive impact is equivalent to removing one petrol car from the road for a year, or the same climate benefit as planting and growing 85 tree seedlings for a decade.

This success is thanks to the new clothing donation bins at the Ararat Resource Recovery Centre (Transfer Station), introduced earlier this year in partnership with Recycle Care Australia. The bins make it easy for residents to responsibly donate unwanted clothes, keeping them out of landfill and promoting a more sustainable community.

Donations can be made free of charge via the blue donation bins located near the front entrance during usual operating hours. Accepted items include unwanted clothes, shoes, fashion accessories, and bags. Batteries, toys, books and hard objects cannot be accepted.

Donated items are collected by Recycle Care Australia and are either donated or repurposed efficiently and ethically, aiming to utilise every donated item fully and minimise waste. Approximately 5% of donations that are deemed retail-quality will go to Australian charities and op-shops. Majority of the remaining clothing is exported to socially and environmentally responsible facilities for further sorting, where approximately 70% is distributed to developing countries. 

"We’re incredibly proud and grateful for our community's enthusiasm and commitment to this recycling initiative,” says Ararat Rural City Council CEO, Dr Tim Harrison. “These results show just how much of a difference we can make when we work together. Thank you for helping us create a more sustainable future for Ararat Rural City."