Plastic lids recycled to make prosthetic hands

The Bunbury community is being encouraged to give a helping hand to people in need by recycling plastic lids.

The lids, from various containers, are used to make prosthetic hands for disadvantaged children in India and developing countries.

Through a partnership with Envision, City of Bunbury staff have set up four collection stations for plastic lids throughout city buildings.

City of Bunbury waste services manager Aileen Clemens said the waste services team had been looking for a new recycling initiative when they heard about Envision.

“We chose it because it is charitable and giving something back to the communities,” she said.

“We’re the only regional local government doing this so far, but we’ve heard from other local governments already who may want to use us as a drop off point for their lid donations.”

Waste services project officer Melinda Whiteley said it took about 500 lids to make a prosthetic hand for a child.

Envision had already exceeded its 1,000,000 target and has set its sights on 2,000,000 lids to make prosthetic limbs.

Plastic lids can be dropped off at the City of Bunbury administration building, the Bunbury Public Library, the Withers Community Library and the South West Sports Centre.

Any lid with a 2 or 4 on it can be donated.

Mrs Clemens asked that lids be rinsed before they were donated, to avoid mould.

“If lids have any extra foam bits inside them, please remove them,” she said.

Vegemite lids and those of similar size are too big for the process and cannot be donated.