Ballarat Recycle Return

Ballarat Recycle Return will use discarded plastic bottle tops to make very functional
utensils, tools and outdoor furniture that will be made available to local schools, aged care
facilities and people with disabilities. The project will begin in Ballarat but eventually
spread to all Central Highland areas. Collection bins for bottle tops will be
provided to local schools, sporting clubs and council facilities to gather the tops. The bottle
tops will be collected, processed and made into usable material to make a range of products
including easy grip bottle openers, planter boxes, disability aids, even mobile phone holders.

The project will provide a practical way for the local community to become involved in recycling.
The product of the recycling will be useful for local schools, aged care facilities, community
groups and people with disabilities – as the activity progresses the range of products will grow
according to need and increasing expertise. The Project will encourage the local community to
be involved in the whole process of recycling the bottle tops with a view to providing skills
training, increasing social participation and a first hand appreciation of the value of recycling.
Information sessions will be held at local schools.