Two new seats made of recycled plastics have been unveiled on Port Macquarie's North Shore.
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The brainchild of North Shore eco warriors and neighbours Jacque Dalrymple and Celia Kershaw, the seating was made possible under a $5000 community litter grant from the Environmental Protection Authority, with help from Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
The duo are keen early morning walkers and rubbish collectors, particularly along the North Shore beach, said Mrs Dalrymple.
"We have always had a keen sense of environmental awareness and the awareness has been growing intensely since we encountered a green sea turtle returning to the ocean after laying her eggs.
"In regard to this project, we began liaising with council in regard to having some more bins, including yellow recycling, installed on the North Shore.
"We developed a rapport with council staff member Nicky Julian who told us about the EPA grant and encouraged us to apply.
"We were successful in the funding application, which was administered by Keep NSW Beautiful."
Ms Kershaw said the funding was to be applied for waste bins, specialised bins for fishing gear, signage or other similar anti-littering preventative projects.
"Our grant was prepared on the basis that we would implement anti-littering signage. However the initial drafts of that signage did not fit with our vision.
"We were aware of Replas products through the recycle program operating within major national supermarkets.
"We loved the fact that the products were made of recycled plastics – one of the very things we are trying to prevent from littering our waterways."
The pair said they were over the moon when they discovered the project could meet their budget and ticked all the environmental boxes we had hoped for.
One seat is made of the equivalent of 15,000 plastic bags which were destined to go to landfill.
Another bonus was that the products needed little, if any, maintenance and would last more than 40 years.
The pair said they are thrilled with the end result.
The seats are now installed at both ferry ramps on the North Shore.
As well, the duo are keen for council to remove 'sign pollution' at the ferries.
Mrs Dalrymple says she hopes existing ferry signage will soon be replaced.
"We are passionate about keeping litter from our waterways and about inspiring others to do likewise," she said.
"The feedback so far from the community has been extremely positive and we are hopeful that it inspires the prevention of littering."
The new seating was unveiled on Monday January 28.
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