Community members across the region will soon be able to donate and purchase second-hand goods at Alpine Shire's very first tip shop, located at the Myrtleford Transfer Station.
The Alpine Tip Shop will be a physical retail outlet where people are invited to donate and purchase items otherwise destined for landfill, including building materials, small kitchen appliances, sports equipment, and furniture.
This new facility will be opened to the community at an official event starting at 10.30am on Thursday, 6 March 2025.
Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas, celebrated the opening of the Alpine Tip Shop as a new opportunity for community members to reduce their waste in landfills.
"Estimates made during initial assessments indicated that having a tip shop at the Myrtleford Transfer Station has the potential to divert approximately 74 tonnes of waste from landfill in its first year of operation," she said.
"Coupled with the introduction of Food Organics, Garden Organics, the Alpine Tip Shop will continue to help community members in our region contribute to a circular economy and a more sustainable future."
Community Solutions Manager at Sustainability Victoria, Candyce Presland, said that Sustainability Victoria has supported Alpine Shire Council to deliver the Alpine Tip Shop through a $106,666 grant from the Victorian Government's Circular Economy Councils Fund.
"This fantastic community facility will reduce the cost of living for local residents by offering quality, affordable rescued items," she said.
"What's more, it's led to the creation of two permanent and six temporary local jobs."
Construction of the Alpine Tip Shop began in October 2024 and prioritised the use of recycled or second-hand materials.
Materials used for earthworks were sourced from within the Transfer Station, including crushed concrete from the concrete stockpile crushed by Alpine Shire Council staff and recovered clay from the site.
The display shelving within the Tip Shop was sourced second-hand and the carpark wheel stops were made from 100% recyclable materials.
Cr Nicholas applauded the efforts that were made to ensure the construction of the facility reflected the purpose of its operations, as well as integrating with the existing services of the Myrtleford Transfer Station.
"Myrtleford was chosen as the location for a tip shop in the Alpine Shire due to available space on the existing footprint and the minimal disruption to the existing operations," she said.
"It also presented the best value for money to build a new facility and establish a strong base for community members to donate and purchase items."
Ms Presland said that the Alpine Shire Council project team is to be commended for its use of recycled materials in the construction of the Alpine Tip Shop.
"It's a fabulous example of the circular economy in action and demonstrates what can be achieved when we rethink our waste," she said.
Transfer Station staff will determine the suitability of the items based on the criteria listed on Council's website and staff discretion. Disposal of items that are deemed unacceptable for the Alpine Tip Shop will be paid for by the customer as per other transfer station loads.
For more detail, including items that will and will not accepted at the Alpine Tip Shop, visit https://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/residents-ratepayers/waste-recycling/alpine-tip-shop.
The Alpine Tip Shop was supported by Round 3 of the Circular Economy Councils Fund, delivered by Sustainability Victoria under the Victorian Government’s circular economy policy - Recycling Victoria: A new economy.