Different, fun and rewarding are some of the words used to describe what’s going to unfold in Lismore this weekend.
Spring into Scavenge is a free community clean-up, clothes swap and waste education event. Complete with live music and prizes, it’s all happening at Riverside Park, near Ballina Road bridge, on Saturday 13 March from 4 to 6pm.
How does it work?
The Scavenge includes a waterway clean-up and clothes swap, where all litter collected becomes currency to purchase quality pre-loved clothes, books and bric-a-brac donated by the local community.
For every 500 grams of litter collected by participants, they’re rewarded with one Trash Token to use in the pop-up market.
Participants will learn how to separate and catalogue rubbish to capture data for the Australian Marine Debris Database, alongside volunteers from local community groups such as Lismore Veggie & Herb Garden, Wilson’s River Landcare and RealArtWorks.
Make a difference
‘Honeycomb wouldn’t be beautiful covered in trash, neither is our land,’ said local Scavenge Coordinator, Luke Stone. ‘Make a difference and be rewarded!’
The Lismore Scavenge is the latest in a series of Scavenge events which have been happening in different locations since 2015, with a particular focus on cleaning up waterways.
Saturday’s event is being organised in collaboration with Seaside Scavenge Ltd, which is a not-for-profit organisation on a mission to clean up the world by educating communities and businesses about the value of plastic and textile waste.
‘The Scavenge is about using a fun and positive approach to bring diverse communities together to realise the true value of waste and turn it into a resource, rather than something we throw “away” – because there is no away,’ said Seaside Scavenge Founder and CEO, Anna Jane Linke.
Prizes
On Saturday there will be prizes for categories including; Most Litter Collected, Most Cigarette Butts, Furtherest Scavenged and Weirdest Item.
All prizes have been donated by local businesses, including NORPA show tickets, massage vouchers, meals at Miss Lizzies Restaurant, North Coast Gymnastics training for the kids, and Baskin-Robbins ice creams.
Bass Invaders are offering half-price entry for Scavenge participants to their Civic Hotel gig on the night from 6pm, and there will also be funky live music all afternoon from local musicians including Tapestry Road.
You can register to attend Spring into Scavenge by registering online through the eventbrite link, which will help organisers follow state COVD-19 rules.
Everyone is asked to bring ‘a mask, gloves, a bag for litter, water bottle and a healthy self!’ Hand sanitiser will be provided at the event.
For more details, head to the Seaside Scavenge website or Facebook event page.
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