Household recycling service making its mark

A HOUSEHOLD goods recycling collection service is taking the industry by storm and has recently expanded to cover the whole of Victoria – all in less than three years.

Launched in November 2022, Melbourne-based AH Recycling Group now picks up monthly from homes in Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong and beyond, in addition to metropolitan runs every day of the week.

It is a sensation on social media, with posters unanimously singing its praises.

And according to its founder and owner-operator Alex Harisopoulos, it’s only getting bigger.

“As I’ve gotten further out into Victoria, I’ve realised that it’s needed everywhere, especially in regional areas,” he said.

“The big goal when I first started was to service all of Victoria, and that’s been achieved a couple of weeks ago.”

Donations are sent overseas for sorting, with items ending up in more than 40 different countries in Africa and the Middle East for use by those in need.

What can’t be worn or used is diverted for different purposes.

“Rather than go into landfill, they’re recycled and made into cleaning cloths and rags…that go to your mechanics, your tyre shops, your hotel cleaners and your window washers,” Mr Harisopoulos said.

The group collects clothing, shoes and bags, doonas, sheets, pillows and pillow cases, cushions, towels and other linen, soft and hard toys, underwear, bras, nightwear and socks, school uniforms, sportswear, jewellery, and books.

Mr Harisopoulos said people living in regional Victoria had limited options when it came to passing on their unused items because charity shops – for whatever reason – may not be equipped to cope with demand.

“And also a lot of donation bins have vanished from country Victoria, and they’re starting to vanish from metro Victoria,” he said.

“We don’t own any donation bins; we’re doing 100 per cent home pick-ups.”

The first Wednesday of every month is the Geelong region collection, the second Wednesday is Bendigo, the third is Ballarat and the fourth is the Mornington Peninsula area.

All the last week of each month is spent in Gippsland, while Albury-Wodonga is the first Monday and Mildura is the first Friday.

Mr Harisopoulos came up with the idea for AH Recycling Group through helping his mother at a recycling organisation during his school years.

He graduated from university with a commerce degree in 2020, but rather than pursue a corporate career he decided to develop the recycling concept – and hasn’t looked back.

For example, at peak times – particularly during summer – the group can have as many as 60 home collections scheduled on a Ballarat region pick-up day. Schedules are similarly heavy in other centres.

“It’s a seven-day, 24-hour service,” Mr Harisopoulos said. “Every day there’s a different part of Victoria that we do.

“It’s a service that doesn’t discriminate – it’s for anyone. If someone wants to book with us we’re there for them.”

Collection bookings can be made through the AH Recycling Group profiles on Facebook and Instagram. Contact can also be made via email at [email protected].