G'day, eco-warriors! 🌿 It's time for another dive into the world of waste reduction and recycling. This time, we're shifting our focus from a national perspective to a local gem in the heart of Perth's Central Business District. 'Made in the City of' is about to take you on a journey that's both inspiring and heartwarming. So grab your reusable coffee cup, settle in, and get ready for a tale of transformation.
But first, a quick reminder: Adding our voices, our time and our resources to advocate, educate or act for change (collective action👯) can be one of the most immensely impactful ways to fight the climate crisis. There are many ways to do this, and it is better together, whatever your together looks like, AND individual actions still matter. Especially in high-income nations like Australia, where the combined impact of our personal choices is baked into our National climate plans, including the National Waste Policy Action Plan. Every step we take on this journey counts.
Chapter 1: The Genesis of 'Made in the City of'
'Made in the City of' isn't just a store; it's a project with a mission. A social enterprise from Green World Revolution, they've successfully recycled 200,000 odd plastic lids since starting last April - one-fifth of the journey to the mission of diverting 1 million lids from landfill.
Nestled right in the heart of Perth's CBD, 'Made in the City of' is strategically located to inspire and engage the local community. Step inside with us and take a virtual tour through their charming workshop, where the magic unfolds.
Plastic Lids - A Growing Menace
Before we delve into 'Made in the City of's' work, we must first understand the sheer scale of the plastic lid problem. Let's chat about those tiny yet mighty culprits in our daily lives – plastic lids. It might surprise you to know that billions of plastic lids are produced worldwide every year, and guess where many of them end up? Yep, our oceans and beaches. According to the Ocean Conservancy, plastic caps and lids consistently make it to the top ten most collected items during coastal cleanup efforts.
But it doesn't end there. As these little lids break down into even tinier pieces, they join the growing problem of microplastics. These minuscule particles have managed to infiltrate even the most remote and pristine corners of our planet. According to Australia's DCEEW*:
"Every year in Australia approximately 130,000 tonnes of plastic leaks into the marine environment. Our use of plastic is increasing and across the world will double by 2040. By 2050, it is estimated that plastic in the oceans will outweigh fish."
And if you're thinking, "Well, maybe they just go to landfills," you're not entirely wrong. In the City of Stirling, where I live, they recommend putting plastic lids into your red bin as the lids are too small for recycling machinery. Plastic lids find their final resting place in landfills each year, where they'll persist for hundreds of years, reminding us of the non-biodegradable nature of plastic. It's no small matter, eco-friends. The production of these lids also has its environmental toll, with plastic manufacturing accounting for about 4% of global oil consumption. Let's be mindful of our choices and explore creative ways to reduce this impact. 🌎💚
The Art of Transformation
What sets 'Made in the City of' apart is their remarkable ability to turn trash into treasure. From the collection and sorting of plastic lids to the intricate craftsmanship, these seemingly worthless items are transformed into beautiful, functional objects. Their dedication to recycling and waste management shines through every step of the way.
For 'Made in the City of,' it's not just about products; it's about fostering a culture of sustainability and social impact, working with long-term unemployed mature age women to help them re-enter the workforce.
I got the chance to peak behind the curtain (literally) in the Perth CBD store (at 69 Barrack St) and take a tour of the workshop. In this relatively small yet productive space, the lids go through the following process:
Washing - an actual Miele washing machine completes this process, with what looked like a 'delicates' bag (or the knickers bag as we call it in Mid Green household) to get them all clean.
Sorting - no mean feat as not all lids are made the same. The volunteers are sorting by colour and by the polymer or resin identification code (that number in the little triangle). Polymer numbers '2', '4', and '5' are thermo-polymers, meaning they're moldable at certain temperatures and therefore recyclable again and again. Not everything is labelled so the pliability (the squeeze factor?) is another give away on the type of polymer.
Crushing - the lids are crushed in a rather noisy machine into little particles. There is then two main processes those crushed particles can go through to be turned into goods -
Injection moulder - which heats and sends out an almost liquid stream to form products (looks like squiggly little plastic snakes) - a pretty impressive looking machine, or
Compression technique that squishes them together in moulds to form items like the key rings.
Even the waste of the recycling product doesn't go to waste - a local artist uses the offcuts and carves them into plastic beads and shapes for jewellery which are all unique and funky. <
A few things I leant from chatting to Toby Whittington on the tour - advocating for plastic lids to all be made completely from polymer types 2, 4 and 5 would ensure they can be recycled again and again. It's a simple change that can really add to the circularity of plastic - which is after all, a very versatile material. I don't yet know how or where to campaign for this, but will see what I can track down readers.
It's a small business with heart and relies heavily on the work of the volunteers and the peppercorn lease from the owner, which has helped this shop and studio spring up in an old friend chicken shop. You wouldn't know this from the front, but the fryer extraction fans are a giveaway in the studio.
Toby encourages business, especially those in the CBD, who produce lots of lid waste to get in contact Collaborate | MADE IN THE CITY OF.
'Made in the City of' is a story of creativity, commitment, and conscious living. By turning plastic lids into extraordinary creations, they are not just reducing waste but changing the way we perceive it. It's a shining example of what can be achieved when passion meets purpose, and trash is truly transformed into treasure.
Visit 'Made in the City of' for Sustainable Christmas Gifts
Feeling inspired? Ready to be a part of the solution? They're open several days a week, with the busy volunteers and workers crafting in the back studio. Why not pay a visit to 'Made in the City of' this Friday, between 1 pm and 7 pm, right in the heart of Perth's CBD? I purchased a little Christmas haul while there, with the funky jewellery, aesthetic little tapas bowls and the indoor pot plant support bound to be popular Christmas gifts.
Remember, every small step we take on our collective journey towards waste reduction and sustainability makes a difference. 'Made in the City of' is proof of that.
References
Made in the City of. We make new designer products from trash plastic lids. | MADE IN THE CITY OF
*Department for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: National Plastics Plan summary - DCCEEW
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