From trash to treasure

Instead of sitting idly unused, old mobile phones, laptops and tablets can now be passed onto new homes across the city, , thanks to a partnership formed by the Georges River Council and a community led environmental project aiming to reconnect people in need.

Two convenient recycling stations located at Hurstville Library and Clive James Library Kogarah will mean residents can turn their trash to others’ treasure, instead of waiting for Council’s e-waste drop-off days to come around.

Partnering with the Reconnect Project – an award winning environmentally positive vision and repair workshop in Penshurst, anyone can drop in and donate their unwanted electronic device for a new life.

In their first 12 months of operation, it has been a successful run for the Reconnect Project, rescuing 252 phones, 23 tablets and 26 laptops to rehome them to people in need.

Council can link customers to the repair shop, to hand in old devices to receive a complete overhaul before they are passed onto someone else.

Having the recycling station in the two largest Council libraries allows for a high volume of foot traffic, which will assist the project in generating more donations.

The Reconnect Project won the 2021 Westfield Local Heroes recognition and awards program and received $10,000 in prize money. Founder Annette Mayne is one of the 2021 Westfield Hurstville Local Heroes.