22 November 2023
MEDIA RELEASE
Waste No More in Tamworth to close doors
Waste No More, a partnership between Challenge Community Services and Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) that facilitates the recycling and refurbishment of items to be sold back to the community, will close its doors in Tamworth over the coming weeks due to economic pressures.
The initiative, first implemented in 2019, aimed to increase resource recovery while increasing employment opportunities for people with disability in the Tamworth region. The final day of trade is set for Saturday 2 December 2023 and will be closed out with a 3-day fire sale held at the Waste No More centre on Belmore Street in Tamworth.
“In the closing down of Waste No More in Tamworth, we will liaise with other service providers, such as One of a Kind, to take what they can to sell to ensure what is of use to the community is made available at other locations,” said Richard Hardwick, Executive Director Business Services for Challenge Community Services.
“It has been a difficult decision to cease operation of the site, however in the wake of covid lockdowns, restricted trading hours post lockdowns, and increased economic pressures, the program has unfortunately become financially unviable.”
Challenge Community Services is committed to looking after their Supported Employees who worked in the site and will redeploy them to other roles within the business.
“The Waste No More partnership with Council was a wonderful initiative that benefitted our community on many fronts, especially in supporting those in our community with disability,” said Mr Hardwick.
“At Challenge Community Services, we will remain on the lookout for other opportunities to work with Council in the future and we will continue our existing work with Council.”
The Challenge Community Services office attached to the Waste No More site will be moving to a new location, on Goonoo Goonoo Road, along with the Tamworth head office and Allied Health office, at the end of the year.
END
About Challenge Community Services
Challenge Community Services has provided innovative and people-focused services to the community for over 65 years. Our offering to regional and metropolitan communities includes Disability Services, Foster Care, Allied Health and Business Services.
At Challenge Community Services, we care about enriching every interaction, no matter how big or small, to make a positive difference in the lives of all members of our community. We do this because we are passionate about realising the potential of all people who we support.
For media inquiries please contact:
Rachel Antrobus
Marketing & Communications Manager
Challenge Community Services
0408 424 745
