Rig Recycle NSW SRP

Source Reduction Plan (SRP) Overview

Name of SRP

Rig Recycle NSW SRP

Partners Delivering the SRP

Tangaroa Blue Foundation – created, delivered and led the SRP
NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts – funding Tangaroa Blue project ‘Look After Your Tackle’ includes Rig Recycle
TackleWorld – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear
Compleat Angler – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear
Councils – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear
Shimano – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear
Universities – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear
Boss Outdoors – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear
Region X Kayak and Camping Experiences and Equipment Hire – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear
Mark Berg’s Addict Tackle – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear
Fulton Hogan Construction Compound – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear
Clean4Shore – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear
Moe’s Tackle – implemented Rig Recycle stations for people to dispose of fishing gear

Location

TackleWorld stores in NSW: Drummoyne, Forster, Goulburn, Mark’s Point, Merimbula, Moruya, Nowra, Port Stephens, Taren Point, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong

Compleat Angler stores in NSW: Kempsey, Narooma, Ulladulla, Illawarra/Windang, Batemans Bay

Councils in NSW: Shellharbour Council, Port Stephens Council, Clarence Valley Council, Hawkesbury City Council, MidCoast Council, Eurobodalla Council

Boss Outdoor stores in NSW: Merimbula, South Nowra

Universities in NSW: UNSW Sydney, Southern Cross University (National Marine Science Centre) Coffs Harbour

Shimano Headquarters, Caringbah

Independent business in NSW

Region X Kayak and Camping Experiences and Equipment Hire, Batemans Bay
Fulton Hogan Construction Compound, Waratah
Clean4Shore, Macmasters Beach
Moe’s Tackle, Coffs Harbour
Mark Berg’s Addict Tackle, Tweed Heads
Harry’s Bait and Tackle – Batemans Bay
Gray’s Marine and Welding – Yamba
Sportspower Corowa
Malabar Boat Owners and Sea Rescue Club Inc
Rocks Marine Bait and Tackle – South West Rocks
New Age Fishing – Swansea

* All the above locations are listed on the Recycle Mate App

Photo 1

Evidence of the issue

Photo 2

Evidence of SRP resources

Photo 3

Evidence of positive outcomes

Overall Goals & Background

Targeted Debris

Recreational Fishing equipment

Monofilament & Braid line will be recycled
Plastic line spools will be recycled or upcycled
Handline spools can be either recycled or upcycled
Hooks – not rusty, will be upcycled where possible
Sinkers – any condition, will be upcycled where possible
Swivels – not rusty, will be upcycled where possible
Lures – in any condition – if they cannot be repaired, they will be used for parts
Floats – in good condition, will be upcycled where possible

Why is the SRP needed?

Rig Recycle is needed in NSW because recreational fishing produces a lot of waste, with fishing line making it into the top 10 items found on beach clean-ups in the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) Database. The number 1 item is plastic, making up 84% of the rubbish we find on Australian beaches.

It was identified that there was a recycling gap when it came to products associated with recreational fishing. Feedback from recreational fishers and retailers also identified the need for a recycling collection and recycling system that was able to accept not just broken and unwanted fishing gear, but also single-use plastic packaging items like fishing line spools.

In the short term, we aim to divert specified recreational fishing items and packaging accessories from becoming litter in the environment or being disposed of in landfills. In the long term, we aim to deliver a circular economy model that fills a recycling gap.

Logistics

Timeline and Project Goals

Project design and pre-audits: 12 months
Implementation: 2 years
Post audits and reporting: 6 months

The goal was by December 2023 to have 40 Rig Recycle stations distributed to partners (recreational fishing stores, councils, and other partners) providing a recycling place and vessel where recreational fishing waste items get collected.

By December 2023 we aimed to have an established process of material collection, auditing, and data being entered into AMDI Database with materials then being repaired, reused, and recycled.

Measuring Success

Assets: 40 Rig Recycle stations were created and distributed

Contents of the stations are audited by staff and the data is recorded into AMDI. The overall amount (kg) collected from the stations allows us to measure the reduction of recreational fishing litter that would be going into the environment and landfill, as well as the success of the program.

Our target audience is recreational fishers and fishing retailers. We measured reaching our target audience and community engagement by;

Number of people who registered to attend an online AMDI Workshop for recreational fishers, which included information about the Rig Recycle program.
Number of audience reached from in-person AMDI Workshops across the state, which included information about the Rig Recycle program.
Number of recreational fishing retailers who have adopted a Rig Recycle station and continue with the program
Social media reach and engagement

Data Collection & Reporting

In 2023, funding was allocated to the Rig Recycle AMDI app project – aiming to support data collection efforts.

Tangaroa Blue Staff collect contents of the stations on an as-needed basis, audit, and data is recorded into AMDI.

Results and Reflections

Positive Outcomes

There has been a significant reduction of the targeted debris, shown on the AMDI database.

Assets: 40 Rig Recycle stations were created and distributed

Achieved reaching our target audience;

34 people registered to attend an online AMDI Workshop for recreational fishers, which included information about the Rig Recycle program.
11 in-person AMDI Workshops were delivered across the state, which included information about the Rig Recycle program.
27 recreational fishing retailers support Rig Recycle by adopting a station.

Our Rig Recycle Instagram page featured NSW partners who support the program, 20 posts so far – total reach 1521; total engagement 313 (at time of writing)

Post 1

Our Rig Recycle Facebook page featured NSW partners who support the program, 21 posts so far – total reach 5452; total engagement 455 (at time of writing)

Funding

Approximately $40,000 including the stations, servicing, recycling, and promotion during the life of the NSW Recreational Fishing Grant.

Challenges & Improvements

Original project partnerships changed for Rig Recycle station hosting. This led to new relationships with Shimano, TackleWorld, Compleat Angler and Boss stores.

Areas for improvement include a pre-organised collection and courier plan for collected items that is cost-effective and easy for the partners to manage

Future Opportunities

SRP is still in action in NSW, with most hosts continuing involvement with Rig Recycle and new partners coming on board. There are currently 43 Rig Recycle stations implemented all around NSW.

During the project, we were able to secure support from Shimano Fishing Australia. Shimano has supported us by:

purchased an additional 50 stations to send to their dealers in areas where we don’t have more available.
supported the program by promoting it through their dealer network
promoted it on their social media pages
provided networking opportunities
provided a location to store spare stations in Sydney
provided a meeting space for us in Sydney

Shimano was featured on our Facebook Rig Recycle page on 4/8/2023 – reach 14,447 ; engagement 746

Shimano was featured on our Instagram Rig Recycle page on 4/8/2023 & 11/8/2023 – reach 189 ; engagement 50