Meet a group of motivated individuals who are championing sustainability in their local community
PECWRAG is a group of passionate individuals, working to influence policy and divert waste from landfill.
Laura Carrington formed PECWRAG in 2019 after being a part of another environmental group, the Adelaide Waste Collective. Wanting to bring something similar to her local area she brought together a group of people passionate about reducing waste.
PECWRAG’s Mission
PECWRAG values the local community and our environment aiming to achieve positive outcomes through collaborative planning and action. Core values include:
- Learning and sharing information
- Collaborating with like-minded people
- Sharing local wins
- Identifying and forming solutions for concerns around waste management/resource recovery
- Respecting differences in abilities to recover resources in different industries and households
- Creating behavioural change in our communities to improve resource recovery
Community involvement, meetings and members
The members of PECWRAG come from a diverse range of backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common; their desire to champion environmental sustainability. The group consists of local community members, Port Environment Centre volunteers, supported by City of Port Adelaide Enfield waste management staff.
The members take on different roles and responsibilities, dependent on their experience and areas of interest. Council waste management staff provide insight into the waste industry, recycling and the circular economy, as well as guiding us on state and national policies and providing valuable perspectives on waste management. Community members and PEC volunteers provide important perspectives and knowledge about the community and the environment. The members work together to brainstorm ideas, work on projects and engage with the community.
The members of PECWRAG meet monthly at the Port Environment Centre to plan their next actions, work on upcoming projects and share their passion for the environment with each other.
Projects
PECWRAG is interested in reducing waste through:
- Resource recovery- recovering objects that would usually go to landfill,
- Reducing food waste and supporting food waste to organics,
- Recycling and waste education to promote proper waste disposal practices.
Some examples of things they have worked on include:
- Presenting at the Port Adelaide Environment Forum for the topic ‘Resource Revolution’ providing insight into the waste crisis and offering tangible solutions at the community level
- Researching and establishing a Resource Recovery Depot at Port Environment Centre, a place for people to drop off certain items to be rehomed, re-used or recycled (corks, glass jars, pens and textas, reading glasses and x-rays)
- Organising visits to the CAWRA (Central Adelaide Waste and Recycling Authority) to see recycling in action
- Providing input and feeding ideas and proactive solutions back into council
- Making submissions to local and state governments on resource recovery and the circular economy
- Offering to volunteer as ‘bin buddies’ at community events to help the public to correctly use organics and recycling bins
- Updating and maintaining the Recycling Guide for common items here in the Port Adelaide area
The future of PECWAG
PECWRAG was nominated for the Emerging Community Group of the Year Award at the City of Port Adelaide Enfield’s Australia Day Awards, 2021.
PECWRAG will carry on passionately spreading the message of mindful consumption and waste disposal to minimise the ecological impact of waste.
If you’re interested in connecting with PECWRAG please reach out to them through the Port Environment Centre.
Want to start something similar in your area?
All you need is to gather together a few others also passionate about reducing waste,
find a place to meet and then see where your ideas take you.
We’d love to hear how you go.
