To celebrate National Recycling Week, Shellharbour City Council will host hands-on sustainability workshops to promote waste reduction and community skill-building.
Kicking off this week, the Shellharbour City Library will host a special visible mending sewing workshop tomorrow.
The workshop will introduce participants to the traditional Japanese embroidery technique, Sashiko. This method combines beauty and function, teaching people how to repair and repurpose clothing in an eco-friendly way.
All workshops are held in the Shellharbour Library’s Create Space, a dynamic area where members can access creative tools and equipment for free. This includes sewing machines, audio gear, and musical instruments. The Create Space has become a hub for lifelong learning, fostering hands-on and accessible educational experiences for all ages, Council said in a statement.
The library team, who coordinate the workshops, say they are thrilled by the community’s support for the events.
“With rising living costs and growing awareness of the environmental impact of fast fashion, these workshops empower our community with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to repurpose items that might otherwise end up in landfill,” said Shellharbour’s Manager Libraries and Museum, Margie Kirkness.
In addition to sewing workshops, the council has introduced Makedo kits at all library branches. The kits encourage children to create STEM-themed projects using repurposed cardboard. Recent activities have included intergenerational cardboard house-making for Grandparents Day and a ‘Build Your Bear a House’ project during school holidays.
Oak Flats Library, known for its Green Living programs like Green Thumb, also offers a Seed Library. This program helps people learn to grow their own plants and food by sharing seeds and gardening tips.
Mayor, Chris Homer said the Council remains committed to providing eco-friendly learning experiences and will continue expanding these programs into 2025 and beyond.
“As a passionate advocate for the environment, sustainability programs at our libraries and events like Eco Eats and Beats are very important to me. They bring our community together and highlight how crucial sustainability is,” he said.
“I’m proud to support initiatives that help protect the beautiful region we all call home.”
