Yancoal’s Yarrabee coal mine, north-east of Blackwater, is putting old conveyor belting to good use.

Yarrabee has worked with Ausmetals to sell its used/scrap conveyor belting, which Ausmetals remanufactures into second-life products.

This avenue recently raised more than $1500, which funded a much-needed new marquee for Blackwater Junior Golf Club.

Prior to this, the scrap conveyor belting was simply disposed. This new initiative both cleans up the work environment and generates proceeds for the benefit of the local community.

Yarrabee’s workforce is also recycling aluminum cans and plastic drink bottles via the Blackwater Recycling depot, and passing on the funds raised to the local school to help purchase equipment and to support disadvantaged students.

Yarrabee coal operations manager Cris Shadbolt said he was proud to be participating in these recycling initiatives.

“As a leading organisation and employer in the region, we acknowledge the role we play in educating and promoting waste management and the need to minimise waste generation, as well as to identify beneficial uses for wastes that are generated within the community and by our people.

“We are pleased to run programs like these. They are successful in helping reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, while also raising funds that go straight back into boosting local community groups or schools.

“We are always so happy to see how small donations can make a positive impact to people in our community.”