Bright new base for recycling wizards

Meadowbrook is now home for innovative recycling organisation and local success story Substation33.

Substation33 set up shop in 2012 in a building in Kingston from which they took their name.

The social enterprise initiative gives those from long-term unemployment and marginalised backgrounds an opportunity to gain new skills and confidence before transitioning to sustainable employment.

They specialise in recycling and repurposing ‘anything that plugs in or runs on batteries’, says founder Tony Sharp.

The organisation has grown from 5 employees to more than 70 workers in full-time or part-time roles.

But it wasn’t that growth that prompted their re-location to a double-unit base in Ellerslie Road.

Their former home in Mary Street at Kingston was resumed to make way for the Queensland Government’s Faster Rail project as part of the preparations for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

‘It was a little disappointing having to move from our spiritual home but our new base in Meadowbrook is bigger and more modern and sets us up for a brighter future,’ Tony says.

Councillor Tony Hall welcomes Substation33 to Division 5.

‘I’ve seen the amazing work they do in salvaging and repurposing components from a range of electrical devices,’ Cr Hall says.

‘I urge everyone to donate unwanted items to Substation33 rather than sending the e-waste to landfill.’

Substation33 is at Units 9 and 10, 24-26 Ellerslie Road, Meadowbrook.They take donations from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

PHOTO AT TOP: Councillors Tony Hall (left) and Tim Frazer (from Division 7) inspect an emergency road sign that is powered by recycled e-waste constructed by Substation33.