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Salamander Bay Recycling. Get inspired, grab a bargain.
Making new from old!
March 2023
Hello all! We are thrilled to announce the start of a new venture for SBR – offering for sale items made from recycled materials. As part of our ongoing efforts to promote a circular economy we are pleased to be partnering with local company Deeps Engineering that manufacture these items (stacking pots, golf tees and clothes pegs) from recycled plastic.
That’s right, these goodies are made right here in Port Stephens! If you have any products of your own that are manufactured from recycled materials and would like to chat about retail possibilities, please drop us a line, or pop in for a visit.
Happy New Year
January 2023
Welcome to 2023! We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable festive season. Watch this space for some exciting developments to come!
Christmas Shutdown
December 2022
Our last operating day for 2022 will be Friday, 23rd December. We will re-open on Tuesday, 3rd January. From everyone here at SBR we would like to wish you all a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year!
Site Closure December 9th
December 2022
The site will close early at 12 Noon on Friday, 9th December for our staff and volunteers Christmas party. The site will be open again for normal operations the following day (Saturday 10th) at 9:00am.
New Gift Cards
September 2022
If you are ever searching for a gift idea, why not consider one of our new vouchers? These are not only available in store but can be purchased and delivered online via https://squareup.com/gift/ML5K5QKAZWG5P/order.
Grow your own Veg!
September 2022
The cost of living is challenging at the best of times. To help encourage more people to grow food at home SBR has been nurturing a selection of seasonal vegetable seedlings. The first of these ready for sale from today is a wonderful snow pea, the Yukomo Giant. More details of this fabulous variety can be found here www.diggers.com.au/products/pea-snow-pea-yukomo-giant.
The seedlings are housed in biodegradable pots, meaning you simply plant the whole thing straight into your veggie patch!
Watch this space for more vegetables over the coming weeks and months.
Revamp of Recycle Centre begins
September 2022
The 1st day of September not only brings with it a change of season, it also marks the beginning of a revamp to the Salamander Bay Recycling Centre. Over the next few months we will be making a number of changes to the layout and operation of the facility. This will include re-purposing some of our presentation areas to improve the shopping experience for both customers and staff alike. Additionally we are working on improving product offerings in certain areas, for example plants (watch this space!). It’s an exciting time for us – we appreciate your patience whilst we undertake this work and look forward to continuing to serve the local community.
Recycle Centre contributes to the 2022 Mayoral scholarships
February 2022.
Last week GM Gerard McClafferty attended the 2022 Mayoral Academic Scholarships Awards ceremony to co-present this years scholarship recipients, Felicity Webb and Jessica McDonald, with $2000 contributions from the Recycling Centre.
Each year Port Stephens Council partners with businesses, such as Salamander Recycling Centre, to support the next generation of local leaders and industry professionals as they begin their tertiary studies.
“A scholarship can make a big difference to a student starting their academic journey – to buy essentials like textbooks, a laptop or covering the cost of student accommodation,” Mayor Palmer said.
“These scholarships wouldn’t be possible without the investment made by local businesses, so I want to thank each and every one of them for supporting the future leaders of Port Stephens,” he said.
“Along with providing a financial boost, business sponsors and students have the opportunity to connect and grow their professional networks, which I’m sure will be an invaluable experience for both.”
Jessica McDonald is studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Advanced) and Felicity Webb is studying Bachelor of Nursing, at the University of Newcastle
You can read more about this years scholarships ceremony by clicking here.
Salamander Bay Recycling manager Gerard McClafferty with 2022 Mayoral scholarship recipients Jessica McDonald (left) and Felicity Webb (right).
Salamander Bay Recycling manager Gerard McClafferty with Men of League president Chris Kelly and committee members.
Recycle centre still giving through pandemic
February 2022.
While the centre has been impacted by the pandemic – the retail shop had to be temporarily closed for a period – it continues to ensure that a significant portion of its revenue is reinvested into the community through financial donations.
“We have very strong ties to the community and work tirelessly on engagement and assistance initiatives, whilst promoting environmental leadership and responsibility in recycling,” said general manager Gerrard McClafferty.
“But our ongoing community initiatives can only be achieved because the people and visitors of Port Stephens have remained loyal and continued to use our services.
“Each year we hand out approximately $50,000 in grants to charities, schools and community organisations for projects that benefit the community.”
Last week the recycling centre presented a cheque for $3000 to the Port Stephens chapter of the Men of League Foundation, the charitable arm of the rugby league fraternity which provides assistance and care to address health, social and wellbeing issues.
You can read the full article in the Port Stephens Examiner by clicking here.
Official Opening of the Drive-Thru facility
December 2021.
The brand new Drive-Thru facility at Salamander Bay Recycling was officially opened by Port Stephens Councillor, Glen Dunkley on Monday the 13th of December 2021.
The recycling centre’s Gerrard McClafferty with Sarah Cochrane and Simon Mitchell planting koala feed trees.
Koala feed tree planting at Salamander Bay recycle centre
October 2021.
The importance of providing feed trees for koalas in their natural habitat has become a popular activity for many Port Stephens community groups and the latest to heed the call is the Salamander Bay Recycling.
The recycling centre, in cooperation with hunter Land Management, last Friday planted 20 Eucalyptus Robusta koala habitat feed trees, which were generously donated by the Murrook Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
Assisting centre staff planting the trees were Sarah Cochrane and Simon Mitchell from Hunter Land Management
Salamander Bay Recycling general manager Gerard McClafferty said that the centre has been very conscious of the need for maintaining the Port’s precious environment.
“The replanting project adjacent to the centre in Salamander Bay will offset the recent removal of an ageing swamp mahogany from the site and will help ensure that the local koala population is sustained well into the future,” Mr McClafferty said.
“I want to particularly thank the Worimi for their generosity and Hunter Land for their support.”
The diseased tree was taken down to make way for the construction of a new drive-through facility at the centre, which is currently under development and when completed will provide a much greater level of protection from inclement weather for those who visit the drop off area.
Plastic Free Port Stephens And Salamander Bay Recycling Give Opportunity To Recycle More With Terracycle
June 2021.
The placement of the Terracycle Boxes at the centre is a joint initiative between Salamander Bay Recycling and Plastic Free Port Stephens.
At the moment the centre hosts a range of boxes where you can recycle specific items such as latex gloves, surgical face masks, PPE, fabric, single use plastic bags and even makeup and beauty product packaging and there’s a special box for Colgate packaging.
The boxes are part of the worldwide Terracycle program and some of the boxes, like the Colgate one, are sponsored by brands and businesses.
Terracycle collects post-consumer waste from your key target consumers.
Alicia Cameron of Plastic Free Port Stephens explained that much of the recycled packaging collected goes back into creating more packaging, removing the need for more raw materials.
Plastic Free Port Stephens consulted with the community to determine which Terracycle Bins were most needed and hopes to see venues in other parts of the LGA host the Terracycle boxes.
To deposit your recyclables in the boxes simply clean out any product and drop in the box.
Alicia Cameron told News Of The Area, “Recycling is part of that circular economy, rather than just throwing it out, support the technology of being able to recycle these types of things.”
She is also hoping for industry groups to get together to collect and use the boxes, for example dentists who use multiple gloves per patient.
Businesses that use a lot of PPE could also get on board and become a part of the program that removes these items from landfill.
Providing the Terracycle boxes comes at a cost for Plastic Free Port Stephens.
“Ultimately we’d like to get industry together to share the cost of a box,” she said.
Alicia Cameron of Plastic Free Port Stephens explained that much of the recycled packaging collected goes back into creating more packaging, removing the need for more raw materials.
Outback trip to Cameron’s Corner in north western NSW
May 2021.
