Repair – Don’t Replace Campaign – WD-40 Company Encourages Recycling

Australians live in a disposable society. As consumers, we are both educated and encouraged to throw away and replace items at a whim. There is always a newer, better, replacement that is readily available to purchase, especially if the current product seizes, malfunctions or requires small repairs. After all, doesn’t consumption drive our economy, and therefore isn’t consumption for the greater good?

Long have we as consumers been aware of the impact this behaviour has on resources, the environment, and on our wallets, yet we still tread down the outdated garden path of frivolous consumption. The fact that Australians are often described as ‘consumers’ gives an indication of what underpins our society. However, a new initiative led by iconic brand WD-40 Company calls upon Australians to change their purchasing habits to one of ‘Repair – Don’t Replace’.

WD-40 Company has created the ‘Repair – Don’t Replace’ initiative globally, and is encouraging Australians to take a look at their possessions with new eyes; can we give new life to an existing item as opposed to sending it to landfill? The well-known lubricant and cleaning product company has incentivised those who choose to breathe life into an existing item by offering three amazing prizes worth $5000 to those who enter their projects during the ‘Repair – Don’t Replace’ challenge. The dates for this challenge are from the 26th of February to the 22nd of April 2023.

Revolve Recycling in Alexandria Sydney are supporting the campaign and are embracing this initiative by encouraging visitors to their venue to enter. They have recycled, redeployed, and repaired almost 5,000 bikes and personal transport vehicles in their first 12 months of operation. Their partnership will ensure that we can expect many bicycle and PTV projects to be entered.

Also hosting repair workshops and encouraging the reuse/recycle approach is The Bower in Marrickville which has repaired over 34,000 items and saved over 2.6 million tonnes from landfill through its repair shop, workshops, and courses.

WD-40 Company calls on the wider population to follow suit and kick-start a new paradigm of ‘Repair – Don’t Replace’. They have launched a special website – repairchallenge.wd40.com.au where people can enter their repair, renovation, or recycling project. Entrants can submit a rejuvenated bicycle, motorbike, mower, pieces of machinery, or anything that can have a second life, to be in the running to win one of the three $5000 valued prize packs.

While Australia strives for a growing population, we are running out of landfills whilst running off to the shops to purchase new things, says Nick Roberts, General Manager for WD-40 Company ANZ. We can actually save thousands of tons of recyclable or repairable items from going to waste.

“If we all just took a moment to consider if an old bicycle, mower, motor, piece of machinery or equipment could be repaired rather than being tossed out, we would not only be supporting our environment but our wallets too,” explained Nick Roberts who is leading the global initiative in Australia.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian households produce in excess of 12 million* tonnes of solid waste each year. A percentage of this waste could actually be recycled or repaired and keep being used rather than thrown out and replaced. There is not only an environmental, but there is a social benefit to repairing what we own, even if it means these items are sold to others who can’t afford to buy new items, think of things like push bikes, tools, toys, or lawnmowers, for example.

To learn more about the ‘Repair – Don’t Replace’ initiative or to enter your project and your chance to win 1 of 3 major prize packs, log onto www.repairchallenge.wd40.com.au