GROUNDUP Coffee Recyclers has been named a small business and community finalist in the Frankie Magazine Good Stuff Awards 2022.<\/p>\n
Founded in 2021, the sustainable enterprise picks up 2000 kilograms of coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, and green waste from Ballarat hospitality venues and florists a week and delivers it to local farms and organisations for composting.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, soft plastics recycling was added to GroundUp\u2019s offerings, engaging local manufacturers.<\/p>\n
Company director Eliza Whitburn-Weber said she entered the Good Stuff Awards on a last-minute whim.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I saw I\u2019d made it as a finalist I cried,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe awards are highlighting people doing good stuff, and for me personally, being a reader of Frankie for 15 or so years, to be recognised by people within that industry really means a lot to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing recognised for what I do, which is a bit left field, gives people an idea that the quirkiest, weirdest idea is always worth giving a shot.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a regional area, sometimes we can feel we\u2019re being overlooked, but to be recognised from a national magazine for something I\u2019m achieving in a regional area is a great step forward, and it feels great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the enterprise launched about 15 months ago, GroundUp has worked with 22 resource partners to divert 85,000 kilograms worth of waste from landfill, and Ms Whitburn-Weber said she\u2019s been grateful to have received lots of positive national media coverage along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s been amazing… I simply hope what I\u2019m doing inspires people around the country to give things a go, especially if there\u2019s a way of benefiting the community in a larger way,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n