There are new opportunities for residents to recycle clothing and support community projects through this innovative charity donation program.

Council has brought together the resources of St Vincent de Paul and Foundation Boroondara for this initiative. Whilst these organisations are independent of Council, Council supports their contributions to the well being of the community.

Under this program some 40 outdoor collection bins in the distinctive St Vincent de Paul blue are jointly badged with both the Foundation Boroondara and St Vincent de Paul logos. Residents can also choose to place their goods in the similarly labelled “wheelie” bins that are located in Council premises across the City. The locations are all supervised indoor positions and in areas which enjoy high patronage. They include Council offices, libraries and recreation facilities.

St Vincent de Paul has operated a comprehensive clothing recycling business – managing the whole cycle from bin collection, through sorting to sales in opportunity shops – for a number of years and Foundation Boroondara will benefit from this experience. Council believes that the project will also assist St Vincent de Paul by encouraging Boroondara residents to make quality donations.

Residents may not be aware that of the goods currently placed in general outdoor recycling bins only some 10% is of such a quality that it can be re-sold in Melbourne Opportunity Shops while about 35% is just waste and needs to be returned to landfill.

Through this program residents can assist in reversing this to ensure that the majority of the goods donated can be directly recycled and sold through the St Vincent de Paul opportunity shops.

You are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to donate the clothing you and your family may no longer need, but is still in good condition, with the confidence that the proceeds will be directly benefiting local community projects.

At present, Foundation Boroondara is finalising initiatives to assist residents who are isolated, possibly as a consequence of age, ethnicity or disability, to participate in the community. Additionally, the Foundation is establishing a scholarship program to assist students from disadvantaged families to advance their skills through tertiary education or training which their families couldn’t otherwise afford. It is anticipated that Foundation Boroondara will receive between $20,000 & $25,000 annually from this program.

Indoor collection bins can be found at:

• Council’s Camberwell Office
• Hawthorn Library
• Boroondara Tennis Centre
• Council’s Hawthorn Office
• Kew Library
• Freeway Golf Course
• Kew Customer Service Centre
• Ashburton Recreation Centre
• Hawthorn Occasional Care
• Ashburton Library
• Balwyn Leisure Centre
• Kew Occasional Care
• Balwyn Library
• Hawthorn Leisure Centre
• Bowen Street Family Centre
• Kew Recreation Centre