Recycling hub gets recycled2 min read

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The bright red recycling hub outside The Warehouse in Royal Oak has been temporarily removed due to the extreme number of recyclable products that were collected.

Now a more permanent solution is being sought.

The recycling hub trial rolled out in Royal Oak in November 2022, when The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, and Noel Leeming stores ran an initiative that offered customers a place to drop off soft plastics and e-waste to be recycled. Following the initiative’s success, The Warehouse Group launched the recycling hub at their Royal Oak store, but this was only intended as a trial.

“We wanted to see if customers would use the hub and recycle their ‘hard-to-recycle’ items like toys, coffee pods, and textiles all in one place,” says a spokesperson from the company. The answer was a resounding ‘yes!’

By the 28th of March (when the last recycling hub bins were removed), people had dropped off a whooping 5,500-plus kilograms of textiles, more than 200kgs of used coffee capsules, and over 1,800kgs of soft plastics.

But while the astounding success of the trial ultimately inspired The Warehouse Group to continue, it also highlighted some logistical challenges – due to the sheer volume of items that were dropped off to be recycled. As a result, the decision was made to temporarily remove the recycling hub, while they work with partners to find a longer-term solution.

In the interim, those who want to recycle e-waste and mobile phones are encouraged to take them to Noel Leeming at Royal Oak (not far from The Warehouse). For toys and textiles, provided they’re good-quality, people can donate these to the nearby Salvation Army, or any other op shops.

Soft plastics can still be recycled at the recycling bins at The Warehouse Royal Oak.