Have an Item You No Longer Want but Don't Want to See it go to the Tip?
Call our Reuse Referral Service. If The Bower can accept your pre-loved items then we offer a
free collection service three days a week, Monday to Wednesday, throughout Sydney.
There are certain items we cannot accept, due to space constraints, or they are items
that we
find difficult to sell on, but we do have a database with around 1,000 enterprises that
maybe interested in your reusable items.
You can also email us with photos and/or queries.
Are These Other Enterprises Related to The Bower?
No, they are independent of The Bower. Their structure is likely to be different to that of
The Bower. They might be charities, non-profit or for-profit businesses. But they do share
our fondness for reusing, repairing or recycling goods instead of sending it to the tip. The
Bower receives no kick-back, no commission, no financial benefit at all from the referrals. Click
here to see examples.
How, if The Bower Gets No Money Back, Can it Afford to Provide this Service?
It can't. So the project is supported only with the generous assistance of 9 of Sydney's 44
municipal councils; Ashfield, Canterbury, Canada Bay, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Randwick,
Rockdale, Waverley, and Woollahra. By offering alternatives to residents, the project
reduces the tonnage of household ‘waste’ they currently truck away to the tip.
The Bower wishes to acknowledge and appreciatively thank these councils for their kind
support of this service. Links to these councils can be found below. [But just to clarify a
common misconception, The Bower is not owned, managed or financed by any council.
Other than this one project, The Bower remains an independent community-based
organisation, who funds itself mostly by sales through the shop].
So What Sort of Things Might These Enterprises Take?
The Enterprises are many and varied as are the goods they accept, but all are involved in
reuse,
repair and/or recycling of unwanted items. These enterprises can accept items such as
computers
and peripherals, building materials, even old rags that can be recycled into industrial cleaning
cloths.
Why Doesn't The Bower Want This Sort of Stuff.
Sometimes they are items we don't normally accept, like washing machines - because
we can't test their wash cycles. Sometimes it's as simple as a lack of space, we might just have
too many desks or books at the same time as you need to divest yourself of these. In that case
we'll have a look on the database for places near to you that might want these items.
Hasn't The Bower Offered This Sort of Service Before?
Yes, we have done our best to be of assistance, but we have never had the people-power to
check
how current the information was that we gave out. Nor did we have staff available to
find businesses not already on our list. With the support of the 9 councils we are able to do
both these tasks. And free up time for the shop staff to better serve our visiting customers.
Can you Guarantee These Other Enterprises Will Take my Unwanted Goods?
Alas no. We are only referring you on. We have no control over another business's day-to-
day operations. But we are continually double checking the entries on the database to
ensure the information we give out is as accurate as possible. But ultimately it is up to
these other businesses as to whether they can help you with your goods, in the manner that
you require.
OK, Sounds Good, How Does It Work?
Ring the Bower, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, on 9568 6280 and speak with our
staff. They will endeavour to find a new home for your unwanted item(s). Regardless of
whether the Bower will take the goods directly, or if we are referring you on elsewhere,
our staff will ask a few simple questions like:
• what suburb are the goods in?
• roughly what volume are they
(ie, "is it a couple of milk crates worth, or would it fill a trailer?")
• how did you hear about the Bower?
Your answers will help Councils decide if the project should receive further funding.
Why is the Bower Doing This?
Because our mission is to divert household 'waste' from the landfill, and although amongst
the worlds best paper and plastic recyclers, Australians generate more solid waste per
capita than nearly all other nationalities on the planet — only the USA and Canada throw
away more stuff.
Can I Have My Enterprise Included On The Referral Database?
If your work is in the area of Reuse, Repair or Recycling, and you can assist the residents of
the councils mentioned above, then most likely it will be suitable for inclusion. Aside from
the usual address, phone number, email and web contacts we like a brief but informative
description of the business, plus trading hours, whether you pick-up, accept donations and/
or buy goods, etc. Please contact us to see if your business is appropriate for the Referral
Database.
Can I Ask The Bower About my Local Council's Waste and Recycling Policies?
You can ask, but this is not our area of expertise. Best to go directly to your council. Click
their name below for their website (in most cases we have linked directly to their waste
management information page) or give them a call on the number provided.
• Ashfield
Ph: 9716 1800
• Canterbury
Ph: 1300 791 222
• Canada Bay
Ph: 1300 551 659
• Leichhardt
Ph: 9367 9222
• Marrickville
Ph: 9335 2222
• Randwick
Ph: 1300 722 542
• Rockdale
Ph: 9562 1666
• Sydney
Ph: 9265 9333
• Waverley
Ph: 9369 8000
• Woollahra
Ph: 9391 7000