Support Schemes

From Trash to Treasure

From Issue 2 of Zeroing In - 1st September 2006

One person's trash is another one's treasure according to Junkbusters Inc - a not-for-profit registered charity operating within the City of Armadale.

Operating the highly successful Drop 'n' Shop Reuse Centre at the Hopkinson Road landfill site, Junkbusters intercepts reusable rubbish that arrives at the site and sells it to the public at bargain prices.

Junkbusters chairperson Muriel White said they see some amazing items being thrown away, many of which could be recycled or reused.

‘We provide people with the opportunity to buy one-off items at low-cost prices, such as antiques, furniture, jewellery and household goods.

‘Any item that we receive is restored to its best possible state in our on site workshop.’

Muriel said the more we recycle, the less rubbish that ends up in landfill, an important reason she formed Junkbusters.

‘We wanted to become a solution to junk and show rubbish in a different light.

‘We need to change people's mindset so they realise that things we no longer want or need could have more use than just being thrown in the rubbish bin or taken to the tip,’ she said.

Junkbusters received a grant by the Waste Management Board in 2005 to assist in purchasing tools to repair items for resale.

The shop is staffed by valuable volunteers and their efforts were acknowledged this year by winning the Environmental Contribution of the Year Award at the City of Armadale's Australia Day awards.

The group's activities have expanded and they now run education workshops with local schools, universities and community groups, as well as providing support and donations to other charities or groups.

They have also invited community service and work-for-the-dole participants to work in the workshop restoring goods.

‘We want to become a source of education for the community and encourage people to recycle as much as possible,’ said Muriel.

The Junkbusters Drop 'n' Shop Reuse Centre is open at Hopkinson Road, Armadale every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8.30am to 4.30pm.