Released 01/01/2018
Social enterprise Soft Landing has won the Keep Australia Beautiful 2016 ACT Sustainable Community of the Year and the Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention, Waste Management and Resource Recovery award for their work on recycling the ACT’s mattresses.
“We are extremely proud of the work Soft Landing has done to stop mattresses from going to landfill while providing meaningful employment to people in the community who experience barriers to work,” Michael Trushell, Director, ACT NOWaste, said today.
“Soft Landing was a finalist in the two categories for the Keep Australia Beautiful ACT Sustainable Communities Awards (held on Thursday 8 September 2016) which recognise the efforts of individuals, organisations, businesses and local government agencies in achieving sustainability in the ACT. It is great to Soft Landing recognised as winners in both categories.
“The Canberra community have been very supportive of mattress recycling with over 11,700 mattresses received since Soft Landing commenced in April 2016. They expect to recycle over 25,000 mattresses each year and are working towards recycling over 90 percent of mattress components including foam, steel and wood.
“Not only does Soft Landing have an environmental focus, but it is a social enterprise that is working to provide 75 percent of positions to people in the community who are experiencing barriers to work including the long term unemployed. At the moment, they employ eight people with a strong commitment to training so staff can stay for life or develop skills for other jobs,” said Mr Trushell.
Bill Dibley, National Operations Manager of Soft Landing, is very excited that the team have received this award.
“The ACT has been such a success story for Soft Landing. The partnership with the ACT Government has provided us with the Hume Shed facility and encouraged the community to bring mattresses straight to Soft Landing. I would also like to acknowledge our partners at Habitat Employment who ensure we provide opportunities to those in the local community who can most benefit from our waste to wages agenda” said Mr Dibley.
Canberrans are reminded they can drop off old mattresses at Hume Sheds on John Cory Circuit from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm Monday to Friday for $23 per piece. Alternatively they can call 6260 1046 to book and pre-pay $29.50 to have it conveniently picked up from their home. Mattresses can still be dropped off at the Mitchell and Mugga Lane Resource Management Centres for $33 per piece.
For more information on mattress recycling, including a full list of the pricing options, visit www.tccs.act.gov.au
Photo of the Soft Landing team with their awards below.
Photo from right to left: Bill Dibley National Operations Manager; Davydd Cunningham ACT Site Manager; Shane Prizeman; Chidi Okwechime.
- Statement ends -
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