Featured in Eingana, Environment Education Victoria’s Flagship Journal (Vol. 47, No. 01, June 2025)
We’re proud to share that Rethink Recycling was featured in the latest issue of Eingana, a respected publication from Environment Education Victoria (EEV). For over 40 years, Eingana has showcased the work of passionate environmental educators across Victoria. The June 2025 edition explores how schools, industry, and government are reimagining “waste” through the lens of the circular economy.
Our article, “The Evolution of Plastics and the Circular Economy,” spotlights how Rethink Recycling is helping shift communities away from the outdated “take-make-dispose” model and towards a regenerative system that reuses, repairs, and recycles plastic waste.
We explain how our education programs and mobile trailer RUSTIE (Regenerative Up-cycling Solar-powered Trailer with Interactive Education), bring the circular economy to life for students across Victoria. RUSTIE features micro-machines that let students shred, extrude, and inject plastic lids into new, functional products. This hands-on approach allows young people to literally turn their waste into something of value.
In the article, we also share how schools can actively close the loop by collecting plastic lids ahead of our visits. These lids are then used in our demonstrations and turned into materials that students can take back into their design and technology classes, helping them see the full life cycle of a product they once considered waste.
Our work extends beyond schools too. At our Springvale MakerSpace, students and the public can experiment with plastics, turning recycled plastics into sheets, signage, and prototypes for new ideas.
Importantly, the article highlights how this kind of circular education can lead to real career opportunities in sustainability, green innovation, and design. By inspiring students to rethink waste and engage with emerging industries, we’re not just recycling plastics; we’re reshaping the future.
Read the full story in Eingana here – or learn more about our programs at rethinkrecycling.org.au/education