The grant enabled GAHFS to conduct their project “Waste to Landfill Reduction, Gawler Show 2010.” The project goal was to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill as a result of the 2010 Gawler Show. 

In previous years, around 3.5 tonnes of waste was collected and sent to landfill. The project aimed to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by approximately 25%.

GAHFS was able to purchase 90 MGBs, due to bulk purchase of pre-used bins. All MGBs had yellow lids so these needed to be painted green to avoid confusion, and bins were drilled with holes to assist drainage of rainwater. 12 MGBs and information caps were used during the Show and then donated to Gawler High School as part thanks for their volunteer contribution to the project. The waste management providers stated that they collected ‘around ten wool bales’ of deposit containers. This equates to approximately five cubic metres, and an estimated 20,000 containers. 

Bevy Benefits project provides dedicated beverage recycling bins for use at 12 major community/tourist events held throughout the year in Mount Gambier. This project raises awareness about sustainable waste management, builds community resilience, provides options for people to recycle at community events, and diverts waste from  landfill. Within 4 months 92kg of beverage containers had been collected.

A committee was formed in March 2009, incorporating people from all areas of the Wakefield Regional Council, and the charter was to “adopt a town” which had been affected by the bushfires in Victoria. That committee “adopted” the area of Traralgon South and Callignee and fundraising/practical support mechanisms were put in place. One project was called “Cans for Tanks” Cans and bottles were recycled and the money donated to a project aimed to install a rainwater tank at the re-built  Callignee Hall.

The new initiative was clearly recognised as a stand alone project, although it was based on the success of recycling cans for a specific project of a rainwater tank for the rebuilt  Callignee Hall that was destroyed by the Victorian bushfires.

The program is relatively simple. The Adopt a Town committee, with the support of the Wakefield Regional Council, will advertise intensely through all local avenues, to encourage community members to donate their recycling money to certain projects.

The project received incredible support from sporting clubs. Football clubs donated cans and bottles from their home games, placed bins in prominent positions to allow members to donate at any time, invited the project mascot “Can the Man” to come and promote the Cans for Communities project at games and donated cans and bottles from special events. Local businesses and hotels donated cans and bottles and event brought them down to the recycling depots, donating the money as they left.