A Recycling Initiative With a Twist at Anglican Care

Ever wondered if there is a better way to dispose of your old toothbrushes? Ponder no more – the students at Newcastle High School have got it under control. Through the 2019 Colgate Community Garden Challenge, students are collecting used toothbrushes and packaging in a recycling race to be the best in Australia and win a community garden for the school complete with benches, garden beds, and supplies.

And Anglican Care’s environmental guru, Deb Matthews, was keen to help, organising for a donation of 600+ toothbrushes from residents across Anglican Care.

“By helping Newcastle High School, we’re furthering their environmental efforts and not putting the discarded toothbrushes into general waste. It is a significant part of our strategic plan going forward and the opportunity to be involved in something like the Challenge with Newcastle High ticks so many boxes from an environmental perspective for Anglican Care and our residents,” said Deb.

So what does the humble toothbrush become in its next life? Amazingly the toothbrushes are shaved and melted into different items such as park benches and pallet gardens, while the toothpaste tubes are recycled into pencil cases, little lights and other quirky things.

While picking up the toothbrushes at Anglican Care Scenic Lodge recently, residents and students discovered not only a shared interest in recycling but a love of gardening. Anglican Care hope to come together with the students more regularly in the future to work on the vegetable gardens at Anglican Care Scenic Lodge residential home in Merewether.

Find out more about Anglican Care.