Trash, Tunes, Treasure – Take 3’s first Seaside Scavenge is a Runaway Success!
The very first Seaside Scavenge hosted by Take 3 for the Sea was held at Balmoral Beach, Mosman, Sydney on Sunday 18 September. It was a huge success with over 400 local people turning out in the blazing sunshine, thanks to the support of Mosman City Council and an array of local community groups and businesses.
What is a Seaside Scavenge?
At a Seaside Scavenge, litter collected by participants from local beaches, waterways and parklands becomes a currency in a pop-up market to purchase pre-loved clothes and other goods that have been donated by the local community. During these ‘cash for trash’ events, there are live performances by local musicians, workshops and talks by local community groups working in waste reduction and environmental conservation. Trash, Tunes, Treasure – all in a relaxed festival atmosphere that’s fun for everyone, from children to grandparents.
How the day started
The community was invited to come down to Balmoral Beach, Mosman for a day jam-packed with waste education, music, talks, face painting and more. Uncle Allan Murray provided a heartfelt Welcome to Country at the start of the day then participants set off to the beach en masse to collect rubbish which they later exchanged for tokens to spend in the pop-up market.
Hannah Regan, Take 3 Event Manager, reported that participants removed over 4,000 pieces of rubbish during the day, with a total weight of 31 kg. This included more than 1,000 cigarette butts, 1,100 pieces of plastic packaging, and nearly 250 pieces of polystyrene. Hannah noted that 74% of registered participants had never participated in a clean up event before. “It’s great to see so many people coming to their very first clean up event. We hope they not only had a fun day out but also learned about plastic pollution and what they, as individuals, can do to minimise the problem.”
There was a wide variety of stallholders at the event. They provided talks, workshops and activities such as face painting and smoothie making, all designed to entertain, inspire and educate participants about plastic pollution and how to live more sustainably.
Participating businesses and organisations
Bike N Blend – a pop-up events company promoting cycling and sustainability that enables people to create their own smoothies on a ‘blender bike’
Curby – a recycling organisation that collects materials such as soft plastics and diverts them from landfill to be transformed into valuable resources.
Defy Design – Sydney’s all-in-one plastic recycling and manufacturing company.
Exchange for Change – coordinators of the NSW and ACT container deposit schemes.
Little Footprint Parties – face-painting, magic, games, singing, dancing, plastic free gifts and an unforgettable time for the little ones.
Ocean Action Pod – a funky mobile exhibition with props and educational activities creating action for our oceans, engaging hearts and minds in a meaningful and memorable way.
Sydney Institute of Marine Science – a world-leading marine science institute and the principal marine research facility in NSW.
Underwater Research Group – a not-for-profit scuba diving club with a regular dive schedule (boat & shore diving) in Sydney and surrounds.
Zero Emissions North Sydney – a not-for-profit volunteer association helping homes, businesses and schools go electric and reach net zero, as part of the national Beyond Zero Emissions network.
The day would not have been complete without the vibrant sounds of musician Jye Sharp. Jye’s beautiful music helped create a relaxed and enticing environment as people went about the business of collecting and sorting the rubbish they had collected.
And finally, a big shout out to the support crew: We could not have run this day without our legendary Take 3 volunteers. Thanks to their hard work and creative problem-solving, the day ran smoothly and a good time was had by all.
Take 3 extends a special thank you to Mosman City Council who funded the event through a NSW EPA grant.
Take 3’s next Seaside Scavenge event is for the folks at Shellharbour and Wollongong, on Sunday November 6, from 10 am to 2 pm at Lake Illawarra. Registration is free but numbers are limited so register early to avoid disappointment.
Join in the fun! Volunteer at a Seaside Scavenge or other Take 3 event – the more the merrier.
