Wagga Youth Circular Lids Initiative

What is the issue?

Our project, Wagga Youth Circular Lids Initiative: Repurposing Plastics, Reducing Waste, seeks to introduce local recycling solutions for small plastics, such as bottle lids, which are currently sent out of town to Canberra in Fyshwick for processing. This collaboration will focus on engaging local youth in creating a small-scale circular economy while providing educational opportunities to promote environmental awareness.

 What are we doing?

Wagga's Youth Circular Lids Initiative brings together 12–24‑year‑olds to turn used plastic bottle lids of #2, #4 & #5 into functional items through hands-on workshops in:

Learning which lids we can use

A colorful poster showing various plastic bottle caps of different colors and sizes. The poster is decorated with doodles and between the caps, there are handwritten notes explaining that some bottle caps can be recycled and others cannot. Specifically, the yellow, purple, and blue caps can be recycled, while the red cap cannot.
Four children sorting and organizing a large collection of colorful bottle caps on a table, with grocery bags from Coles.

Sorting

Shredding

A black and wooden foosball table with built-in safety features, speed control, reverse functionality, and quiet operation. The table is made in Australia.
Two young people wearing safety gear, including masks and goggles, standing in a workshop or laboratory with tools and equipment on a table in the foreground.

Extrusion

A young girl and an adult are wearing masks, gloves, and safety glasses. They are holding small robots in a classroom setting, with other children working at tables in the background.

Mould-making

How can you/ youth become involved? 

A) Participating youth will learn:

  • circular‑economy principles; 

  • entrepreneurial skills; 

by designing, producing and ultimately, hopefully selling their own creations. All proceeds from sales can then be reinvested in: 

  • new moulds, 

  • upgraded machinery

  • workshop materials, keeping the project self‑sustaining and firmly under the control of its young leaders.

B) You too can be involved! Here's how!

Contact us to indicate your interest. southwaggarotary@bigpond.com

Poster for Wagga's Youth Circular Lids Initiative displaying images of bottle caps, plastic shavings, a person working with a machine, and colored paper clips, inviting community engagement in waste recycling.

What is the benefit to our community?

 Wagga's Circular lids initiative benefits our Wagga community by:

  • reducing plastic waste;

  • raising awareness of sustainable practices;

  • creating locally made products;

  • Inclusive partnerships with First Nations groups, multicultural groups, disability service providers and Pride networks will ensure increased access and equity for all priority groups. 

Our full accessible, culturally safe workshops bring young people together:

  • not only to create molds;

  • to forge friendships, 

  • fostering peer support and boost mental wellbeing. 

Monthly social events strengthen:

  • community bonds, 

  • environmental stewardship

  • intergenerational learning across the Wagga Wagga LGA. 

How is our Wagga's Youth Circular Lids Initiative being funded?

South Wagga Rotary who provide:

  • both cash for equipment and moulds;

  • in‑kind resources from South Wagga Rotarians (grant writing skills, time as mentors) 

  • equipment for venues;

  • public liability insurance 

to empower young people as the key drivers of this initiative.

Rotary Club of South Wagga Wagga logo featuring the Rotary emblem and text.

A) Thanks to:

  • Transgrid whose 2024 Round 2 Community Partnerships Program allocated $$ to Wagga Youth Circular Lids Initiative: Repurposing plastics, reducing waste allowing the purchase of an extruder 

Transgrid logo

  • Wagga Wagga City Council Library, Museum of the Riverina Botanic Gardens and Youth staff for their assistance with holding workshops.

Wagga Wagga City Council logo with a stylized black and tan eagle and blue text

  • Kooringal High School for support, advice, shredding and collaboration in sharing moulds.

  • Kooringal High Student, Lachlan for spearheading our initiative.

  • Wagga's 2025 Environmental Citizen, Leanne for sharing her enthusiasm and expertise in educating us about sorting plastic lids.

  • Wagga Mensshed for support and advice in helping us apply for grants “Our shed’s philosophy is, if something has got a second life, we’ll find it!”.

  • Youth involved in decision-making At our July lid workshop @ Museum of the Riverina Botanic Gardens youth had the opportunity to:

  • Wagga's Girl Guides termly service workshops by Girl Guides demonstrate solid community backing.

B) contributed part funding:

  • $ for Transgrid funded extruder & tumbling block mould 2025 

  • $ towards moulds to complete the cycle using the WWCC funded shredder 

which will enable a Youth Circular Lids Initiative program.

Workshops Already Held in 2025:

  • April 2025 School Holidays

  • July 2025 School Holidays 

Upcoming Workshops:

  • 16th September 2025 for Guides in Wagga

  • 9th October 2025 at Wagga’s Youth Picnic at Riverside Park

  • 11th October 2025 at Museum of the Riverina Botanic Gardens site

A young girl wearing a face mask, glasses, and yellow gloves standing indoors in front of boards with colored dot stickers and numbers.
A woman holding carabiners.
Three people in a science lab observing a small device, with jars, tools, and safety glasses.

How are youth involved in decision-making?

At our July lid workshop @ Museum of the Riverina Botanic Gardens youth had the opportunity to:

A round metallic object, possibly a mechanical part or a camera lens, with markings in the center that read 'South Wabash Roadway' against a light blue background.
Metallic mechanical component with engraved text 'South Wagga Rotary' on a light blue background.
Two metallic engine parts with circular chambers and mounting brackets, one with a label reading 'SOUTH WESSA POWER 88cc' on a light blue background.