21st October 2024

Retirement living resident Bruce May is one of the founding members of our Environmental & Sustainability Committee, a platform where volunteer residents can implement greener practices and solutions at SwanCare. 

One example of their many notable initiatives is our Village Exchange Program, coordinated by Bruce. 

“It first came about because I was concerned for Planet A, the Earth. I then discovered a framework that I thought we, the Bentley Park community, should support - so I brought the idea to Management,” he explains. 

For three years now the Village Exchange continues to serve as a sustainability centre for residents and staff. It gives every-day household items, that would otherwise go to waste, a purposeful place to go.  

The drop-off point is located within the Bentley Park village at 19 Graham Crescent and is open from dusk to dawn, seven days a week. 

“Some examples of items we accept include aluminium coffee pods, medication blister packs, plastic bread tags, hearing aids, spectacles, oral care products, used batteries, plant tags, milk bottle tops, egg cartons and hair care aerosols – as long as the lid is included.  

We also have our Repurposing Section where people can bring in almost anything that they no longer want but think is too good to throw out. Just some examples are biscuit and chocolate tins, jam jars, books – the only limit is the donor’s imagination.”

If you’ve ever wondered what may have happened to your recycled goods, it’s fair to say the opportunities are endless. And contrary to what you may think, Bruce shares how some of the smallest donations can go on to make the biggest difference.  

“The bread tags recycled through our Program are utilised by a handy couple in Robe, South Australia, who manufacture bowls, chopping boards, and other various homewares using post-consumer plastic. The proceeds of the sales from their business, ‘Transmutation’, goes towards a charity that provides wheelchairs to children.” 

Heartwarming stories like these can only be made possible through donations, and while the Village Exchange welcomes most items, there are a few exceptions.

“We can’t manage furniture at this stage, due to the lack of space. Some people also bring in electrical items, however because of government regulation, we cannot handle these at all. Electrical items should be dropped in a waste bin, with the cords removed; or held until there is a General Waste collection,” Bruce explains.  

The Village Exchange Program is run by a small team of volunteers who help manage what goes in and out of the centre. A portion of the items collected are then processed through TerraCycle, a global recycling organisation. 

“They tell manufacturers that if they want to sell products that can cause environmental pollution, they need to be part of the solution,” says Bruce. 

TerraCycle acts as the receiving agent for many items, and they give credits for the quantities sent in. 

“Once a year, groups can allocate their credits to a registered charity, as long as they’ve raised a certain number. We, at the Village Exchange, have exceeded the minimum amount and look forward to receiving cash for the 4,456 credits accumulated, with SwanCare nominated to receive the donations.”  

It’s rewarding to know that by doing good things, good things come back to us. However, raising funds for our SwanCare community is only one benefit, with the Program’s ultimate success leading to lasting change. 

“I would like residents and staff to donate more recyclables of every kind, because any item we can save from the waste bins is all for the greater good of our planet,” says Bruce. 
 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Bruce May, and the wider Environmental & Sustainability Committee, for their unwavering commitment and outstanding contributions.

If you would like to lend a hand, the Committee are looking for more volunteers to help sort the donations coming into the centre. Anyone wishing to support our Village Exchange Program is encouraged to contact Bruce.