A recycling concept being developed in the state's North-East is beginning to spread across Tasmania.
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Since first introducing the pop-up swap meet in Scottsdale two and a half years ago, Legerwood's Steve Colwell has seen the concept grow from strength to strength and will soon test its mettle on the mainland.
The event aims to reduce the amount of useful items going into landfill by encouraging community members to donate items they no longer require, with the payoff of being able to take home other donated items for free.
Items which have not found a new home after being up for grabs at two or three swap meets are then donated to an op shop.
Having already facilitated successful meets in Campbell Town, Deloraine and Zeehan, Mr Colwell is now setting about taking the concept to the city, with meets in Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney planned for 2017.
Mr Colwell said he had incorporated afternoon and morning tea into the event to help foster the event's social atmosphere.
“This is unique to Tasmania,” Mr Colwell said.
“I've done a lot of research and I noticed that in 2000 they started having all these pop-ups - everything is pop-up this and pop-up that and I'm thinking ‘what about a pop-up swap meet?’
“Instead of having a garage sale where you've got to wait all day for a sale - the swap meet is a great concept where you can bring all your stuff in and then go home with a bag full of goodies and a free cuppa and cake.”
Speaking from a Recycling Week meet in Scottsdale on Wednesday, Herrick's Alison Conroy-Jones said the concept was one well worth pursuing.
“I think it's a brilliant brainwave and more places should do it,” Ms Conroy-Jones said.
“Probably there's as many low economic situations in the cities (as in rural towns), so I think it'd be a really good idea for some of the towns and cities to get on board.”
Following a stellar turnout at the first North-West event, the pop-up swap meet will return to Zeehan on November 19 before another Scottsdale meet rounds out the year.
“The next one we'll do (in Scottsdale) will be a Christmassy one and that's like all Christmas decorations, cards, people’s presents that they don’t want, so you get a bit of everything,” Mr Colwell said.
“It's really good to see all the different people going home with stuff they need.”
