By Matthew Sims
St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria [Vinnies] shops across the west, including in Altona North and Newport, can now give electrical goods a second lease on life.
Vinnies launched the Green Sparks program earlier this month, which has trained and deployed about 200 electrical test and tag program [ETTP] volunteers in stores across the state.
Vinnies Victoria commercial services executive general manager Jeff Antcliff said the program was the result of a $250,000 grant from the state government’s Recycling Victoria Community Fund.
“We haven’t wasted any time bringing our vision to life,” he said.
“Vinnies shops across the state now have dedicated battery disposal hubs and Green Sparks test and tag volunteers, who are trained and ready to assess and test quality electrical goods.
“We are a one-stop-shop for people looking to donate and purchase quality second-hand electrical goods.”
Mr Antcliff said the initiative aimed to reduce the amount of e-waste finding its way to landfills and transfer stations.
“If it is good enough to give to your family, it is good enough to give to Vinnies – we welcome as new or fully functioning electrical products, to be donated during our shop opening hours,” he said.
Vinnies area support manager Carmel Bono said with volunteers completing 74,591 home visits during the 2021 financial year, donations can be organised without visiting a store.
Electrical goods must be in working order and with limited damage to qualify for donation.
Vinnies shops have increased their electrical trade by more than 18 per cent since the commencement of the ETTP initiative.
Vinnies would invest the revenue raised from the program into welfare initiatives.
Welfare initiatives delivered through the 2021 financial year included delivering more than $8 million of material assistance to people in need and answering more than 53,000 calls for help at designated call centres.
Details: www.vinnies.org.au/page/Shops/VIC/Electrical_Test_Tag/
