Ararat Rural City Council has been recognised as Recycle Care Australia’s 2025 Textile Recovery Leader, after the municipality’s clothing resource recovery program diverted 11,850 kilograms of post‑consumer textiles from landfill.
The award acknowledges the success of Council’s partnership with Recycle Care Australia, which has seen local residents embrace the scheme and dropping off their goods at the blue and orange bin collection points at the Ararat Transfer Station’s Ararat Resource Recovery Centre.
Since the program’s introduction in May 2025, thousands of items including clothing, paired shoes, linen, and other household textiles have been captured for reuse and recycling instead of ending up in landfill.
Mayor Cr Bob Sanders said the recognition reflects the way the community has rallied behind practical efforts to reduce waste. “Our community has really taken this program to heart, and this award shows what can happen when councils, households, and partners like Recycle Care work together toward a common goal,” Cr Sanders said. “Every bag of clothing that goes into a Clothing Resource Recovery Hub is one less load heading to landfill, and that adds up quickly when you look at more than 11 tonnes of material already kept in circulation.”
Recycle Care Australia’s Textile Recovery Leader award celebrates councils that demonstrate leadership in post‑consumer textile recovery, strong community participation, and measurable environmental outcomes.
Ararat’s program has lifted the municipality’s capture rate for unwanted clothing and household textiles above the estimated national average, with further expansion of drop‑off locations and promotion planned over the coming year.
Council is encouraging residents to continue using the free Clothing Resource Recovery Hubs during transfer station opening hours for clean, dry textiles that are no longer needed. Items placed in general waste bins still end up in landfill, while textiles dropped into the hubs are assessed for reuse, repair, or recycling in partnership with Recycle Care Australia.
Residents can find out more about the Recycle Care program via their website.
