Bottled sun light...

Salamander Bay Recycling has found a new use for old 1.5 litre plastic lemonade bottles. No, not as drink bottles but as energy-free light globes which capture the sun light.

The soft drinks bottles are filled with clean water, 1 cap of bleach is added and the lid is protected from UV damage by being covered with a black camera spool canister.

The bottle is then inserted into purposely-cut holes in the roof, the edges of which are sealed with clear sealant to prevent rainwater access into the building.

Several bottles have been inserted so-far and the result, even on overcast days, has proven to be very.positive.

The trial has removed the need for the installation of electrical lighting in that building, and will further reduce the Centre’s electricity costs.

The idea was first developed by an ingenious engineer in a Brazilian favela(slum).

Follow this link to view a video of the Brazilian installation (fascinating/inspirational stuff):

http://m.wimp.com/lightbulb/

You might find it useful to install your own in a garden shed or garage.

Good luck...

Trashion Show 2011 competition details

If you, or anyone you know, is interested in participating in this year's fabulous Trashion Show, you (or they) can email the contact details, along with any information on your wearable creation and perhaps even photos of your concept's progress to:
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salamander.recycle@gmail.com
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The photos will be uploaded onto the blog for all to see.
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Unlike last year, there are no categories as such, the only parameters being that your design should be wearable and made out of recycled items (you may even wish to utilise materials not normally associated with clothing).
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All entrants MUST provide a model for the event, which will take place at Salamander Bay Recycling on Sunday 5th June 2011 between 10.00am and 12 noon.
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There will be cash prizes of $250 for first prize, $175 for second and $75 for third place.
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A number of Salamander Bay Recycling gift vouchers will be made available for those entries deemed particularly unusual and creative.
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Deadline for all entries is 4.00pm on Friday 3rd June 2011.
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Entry is free, however dollar coin donations (on the day) will be greatly received, with all proceeds going, once again, to the Nelson Bay Yacaaba Centre's Women's Refuge.
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Independent judges will determine the outcome of the competition and will base their decisions on the outfit's creativity, originality and quality of construction as well as the designer's use of unusual, recycled material.
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Further details will be posted in due course...
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But in the meantime, and to get you in the mood, here's a video/photo montage from last year's inaugural event.
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Good luck (and remember to email your interest in participating).
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Trashion Show 2011

Just a short note to advise potential entrants that this year's Trashion Show will go ahead on Sunday the 5th of June 2011.

Entry forms with details of categories etc will be available shortly, and a story promoting the event will be published in an upcoming edition of the Port Stephens Examiner.

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So, get your thinking caps on because this year's event promises to be another cracker.

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Further details will be published on this blog in coming weeks.

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Stay tuned.

We Want Your Scrap Steel

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A significant amount of scrap steel is processed by Salamander Bay Recycling each year.

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We accumulate approximately 60 tonnes of scrap steel each quarter from the local area but we are always on the lookout for more.

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The scrap steel we collect is crushed on site and transported to the OneSteel recycling facility in Newcastle, where it is further refined and then sent on to various steel facilities which are located both here in Australia and further afield in countries such as China.

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Examples of the steel items we recycle are many and varied. For instance, we scrap household goods such as old computers and obsolete whitegoods; we process old bikes that are beyond repair and we even recycle scrapped cars.

So if you've got an old item gathering dust (or indeed rust) in an obscure corner of your home or property; remember that we are here to help, and can take it off your hands.

We'll even come out and pick it up from you, and of course it's all FREE OF CHARGE (that is if you live on the Port Stephens Peninsula).

Check out the video below; it'll give you some idea of the processes involved:

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Salamander Bay Recycling: Helping our local community

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Salamander Bay Recycling is a proud member of the Port Stephens' business community.

We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation run by the community, for the community.

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A list of local Government, charitable and benevolent organisations we have worked with over the last few months is listed below; they have been the recipients of cash donations, furniture, equipment and project supplies which are then distributed via that organisation to where it is most needed.
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But that is only part of the story... .

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There have also been numerous individuals and families who have also benefited from our assistance across the same period. .

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Those individuals will remain anonymous; but remember the next time you pop into see us (to pick up a guaranteed bargain), the money you spend with us and the second-hand items you donate also get "recycled".

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It gets recycled back into the community, to help some of the less-fortunate people around us make a better life for themselves and their families... so as a result, we think that you're pretty "awesome" for giving us the opportunity to do so.

Organisations that Salamander Bay Recycling has assisted since June 2010:

http://www.birubipointslsc.org.au/ Birubi Point Surf Life Saving Club

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http://www.sppspc.weebly.com/ Soldiers Point Public School P&C

http://www.hunterkoala.com/ Hunter Koala Preservation Society

http://www.vinnies.org.au/ St Vincent De Paul, Nelson Bay branch

TLC Early Learning Centre, Raymond Terrace

http://www.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/ Hunter New England Health

Soldiers Point Lions Club

Tomaree Education Centre

http://www.nyasl.org/ Newcastle Youth Accommodation Services Ltd

http://www.familyinsight.org.au/ Family Insight

http://www.mobilemuster.com.au/

http://www.lifestylesolutions.org.au/ Lifestyle Solutions Port Stephens

Gan Gan Family Centre, Anna Bay

Port Stephens Graffiti Action Team Inc

The Yacaaba Women's Refuge, Nelson Bay

TAFE Hunter Institute

http://www.dogrescuenewcastle.com.au/

The Probus Club of Fingal Bay

Waratah and Mayfield RSL sub-branch

Tomaree Links to the Community

Occupational Therapy Dept, Calvary Mater Hospital, Newcastle

Tilligerry Habitat Association Inc

PCYC, Nelson Bay

The (Weekday Trading) Times They Are a-Changin'

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What's the time "Bob"?
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Bob Dylan's impassioned lyrical protest in the 1964 release of "The Times They Are a-Changin' " is world-renowned; however, a little-known fact about the song is that he actually started writing it as an advertisement for the proposed changes to the weekday trading times of Salamander Bay Recycling.

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The original song title of "The Weekday Trading Times of Salamander Bay Recycling Are a-Changin'" was altered late 1963 and the lyrics reworked in a flagrant attempt by Dylan to financially capitalise on the civil rights movement in '60s America.

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We may have been disappointed that Dylan reneged on his agreement to write a radio advert for Salamander Bay Recycling but we have not let this deter us from our ultimate goal: to open longer hours for your convenience.

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So, come gather round people wherever you roam; after 46 (long) years of failed Supreme Court legal battles and personal recriminations, we are proud to advise that the Centre's weekday trade has been extended by 2 hours, to a new and very shiny 5.00pm finish.

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Please heed the call: "The Weekday Trading Times of Salamander Bay Recycling (really) Are a-Changin'".

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Thanks for nothin' "Bob"... (or as you are known around these parts: Robert Allen Zimmerman).

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(New and shiny) Trading Hours:

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Monday - Friday: 9.00am - 5.00pm

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Saturday: 9.00am - 2.00pm

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Sunday: 9.00am - 2.30pm

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Recycling the Sun - Salamander Bay Recycling Goes Solar

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We at Salamander Bay Recycling decided to investigate the benefits of solar electric power as a renewable energy solution for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the ubiquitous promotional campaigns in local, state and national media, encouraging businesses and individuals to participate in solar programs, are all-pervasive and unavoidable.

Also and because we are in the "recycling" industry, the concept of integrating solar-power into the business has been at the back of our minds for quite some time.

The financial incentives offered by the State and Federal Governments, as well as the relatively short pay-back period of the project were also determining factors in the decision-making process.

So the financial aspect, allied with the concept of capturing energy directly from the Sun; significantly reducing the business's energy expenditure and subsequent "carbon footprint" were highly-regarded, positive outcomes from the exercise.

Media Release 4.08.2010:

Not-for-profit organisation Salamander Bay Recycling is working even harder than usual to combat climate change by installing an 8.8kW solar power system. The community group will now be reducing its carbon footprint even further by harnessing the sun’s light to create electricity.

“You could say we are ‘recycling the sun'" said Gerard McClafferty, General Manager, Salamander Bay Recycling.

Salamander Bay Recycling helps to reduce landfill by thousands of tonnes each year whilst diverting valuable materials back to the community through the on-site retail shop.

Hundreds of tonnes of scrap metal are recycled annually and even lead/acid batteries are safely recycled to avoid acid discharge into the environment.

This new 48 panel solar power installation will save almost 12 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions being pumped into the atmosphere annually.

“Salamander Bay Recycling is committed to the ethos of recycling; solar power is another external expression of our ongoing commitment to improving the community and helps, in a small way, to protect our fragile environment” said Mr McClafferty.

SolarSwitch, who has installed for high profile clients including Sydney City Council and Kennards Hire, has been chosen to complete the installation.

SolarSwitch pride itself on installing quality equipment from reputable manufacturers whose warranties are held in Australia.

“We are very excited to be installing a system for such a fantastic organisation who carry out this important work that gives so much back to the local community and the planet” said Adam Tesoriero Director of SolarSwitch.

Investing in solar electricity has now become an extremely attractive investment option for homeowners, community organisations and businesses alike thanks to the new solar electricity rebate and the gross feed-in-tariff introduced in NSW in January this year.

The new solar electricity rebate, known as the “Solar Credits Scheme” is now open to everyone including community organisations and businesses, unlike the old Solar Homes and Communities Plan.

On top of this, the new solar buy back scheme or "gross feed-in-tariff" means anyone with a solar electricity system gets credited at least 60c per kilowatt hour for all the electricity their system generates. That’s almost four times the current retail rate.

SolarSwitch is one of the largest solar electricity installers in NSW and has worked with home owners, local government and businesses installing around 15% of the state’s systems last financial year.

For more information on installing solar electricity contact SolarSwitch on:

(02) 8985 9945 or 1300 880 969 or visit http://www.solarswitch.com.au/.

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