A need for public recycling bins has inspired a bespoke casing/sculpture for the Earth Hour sculpture prize.
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The sculpture, which can hold two standard council issued recycling bins, was designed as a function discussion point by Rachel Russell.
Ms Russell, a Wingecarribee Shire Council candidate raised the need for public recycling bins at a Green Drinks network event.
She listened to ideas from staff at the Reviva Centre and the Secretary of the Bowral Men's Shed, Peter Bawden where it was agreed that public education about the importance of recycling is a key to the successful use of recycling bins.
"An effective way to achieve this is for the community to be involved in the process of designing and creating these recycling facilities," she said.
"The materials for this functional street sculpture have been purchased from the Reviva Centre."
Designed by Rachel Russell, the work was built collaboratively with the Bowral Men's Shed.
Plants for the bush tucker garden were supplied from a local native garden, and Moss Vale Community Garden provided the potting mix, compost, herbs and edibles for the other bed.
Ms Russel said the sculpture was a basic model of what recycling infrastructure could look like in the shire.
"With further research with the support of Council, cutting edge facilities could be created that includes receptacles for all varieties of waste to be repurposed, including food waste," she said.
"Competitions could be initiated with aesthetics as a core component of the evaluation criteria, to sponsor street art and sculpture as part of the culture of our Shire.
"Collaborations could include artists, students, Men's Sheds, and the Reviva staff. Of course, the materials utilised to create the recycling facilities need to be of recycled or repurposed origins to ensure the integrity of the process."
Bespoke recycling - a sculpture made by Rachel Russell in collaboration with the Bowral Men's Shed. Photo: supplied.
Bespoke Recycle
This sculpture is designed to hold two standard recycling bins, with the idea that one is purely for 10 cent refundable bottles and cans, which can then be cashed in to raise money for a community charity. The other bin is for general recyclables.
The earth symbolism in the sculpture is in the soil profile on each side of the bin: grey for rock, brown for earth, and then the green roof of edibles.
The green roof acknowledges the cultures that are together on this land: the bush tucker garden contains a variety of edible foods belonging to Gundungurra Country: River Mint - Mentha australis, Mat Rush - Lomandra longifolia, Blueberry Lily - Dianella longifolia, Dichondra repens, Native Violets - Viola hederacea, and Wombat Berry - Eustrephus latifolius.
The other contains common non-native herbs such as thyme, variegated mint, parsley, chives, and other edibles like sunflowers and strawberries.
The third annual Earth Hour event will be held at the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens on March 27 between 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
It will include the Inaugural Sculpture in the Gardens competition.
Live music, entertainment, sustainability stalls, children's workshops and a family fun Science Show are included. Refreshments available or bring your own picnic.
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