Rig Recycle NSW SRP
Source Reduction Plan (SRP) Overview
Name of SRP
Partners Delivering the SRP
Acknowledgement of partners/organisations that helped implement the SRP and their key responsibilities.
(Local Council, other local government agencies, other community groups).
- 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
Name the type of location; beach, school, CBD, industrial area and the town/city the SPR was implemented.
(For example, Woolworths carpark, Castletown, Townsville)
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
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Overall Goals & Background
Targeted Debris/Litter Item
Name of item or group of items being targeted in this SRP (For example, water bottles or recreational fishing gear)
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
General Timeline
How long did it take?
Include audits, installation/distribution of materials, SRP completion & reporting.
- 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
How did you measure the success of the
SRP?
Some examples include:
– How did you measure/show the reduction of litter, through data collection?
– How many assets were created and distributed?
– Targeted audience (what type of audience were reached and how many people? How was this measured?)
– How did you measure community engagement?
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
What methodology did you use to collect
the data?
How was the data recorded and shared?
(For example, audits, survey frequency, AMDI Database) Include evidence of the methodology used relevant to your type of location. Monitoring Methodology – Tangaroa Blue
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
What was the outcome of your SMART goal?
– Was there a reduction in targeted debris/ litter?
– What assets were created/how many were distributed?
– Did you reach your targeted audience and how was the community engaged?
Include website links and social media platforms
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)
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
What did the SRP cost?
– Cash fundings for asset creation and implementation
– What In-kind funding support did you receive from partners/organisations?
Approximately $40,000 including the stations, servicing, recycling, and promotion during the life of the NSW Recreational Fishing Grant.
Challenges & Improvements
What challenges did you face during the SRP?
– How were these addressed and adapted to?
What could be improved if this SRP was to be replicated?
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
What were some additional positive outcomes?
Is your SRP still in action?
(For example, have any partners/organisations, Local Council, agencies, or community groups continued to implement your SRP?)
Include website links & social media
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