News
Opportunities for people with a disability
July 1, 2010
Rio Tinto Alcan employees take off their shirts for charity
Rio Tinto Alcan has donated more than a tonne of old work clothes to Endeavour Foundation Industries (EFI) Gladstone.
By donating thousands of work shirts, trousers and overalls, Rio Tinto Alcan has answered the call of EFI Gladstone, which is desperate for unwearable clothing so it can meet the demands of the commercial rag industry.
“EFI Gladstone is a manufacturing workshop which employs 33 people with a disability, who work to produce products for the local community,” said EFI Gladstone training and development officer Karyn Clark.
“The clothes provided by Rio Tinto Alcan Yarwun will have their logos removed and be cut up by our supported employees, and sold as industrial cleaning cloths.”
Demand for the cleaning cloths has increased as a result of the booming local economy.
The rags are essential for construction, engineering and mining-related businesses.
“There is a really big demand for industrial cleaning rags,” said Karyn.
“The uniforms from Rio Tinto Alcan Yarwun will certainly help to ease the demand crisis.”
The profit made from the sale of the rags will go toward the training and development of the EFI supported employees.
Rio Tinto Alcan Yarwun’s latest donation was made in July, after the site’s change from beige shirts to orange, and follows a donation of about 650kg of overalls and trousers last month. Rio Tinto Alcan Yarwun Community Relations manager Mat Ovenden said it was important to the site that the clothing be recycled, and remain local if possible.
“The recent uniform changeover on the Rio Tinto Alcan Yarwun site meant that there was a surplus of work wear that was no longer required by employees,” Mat said.
“It was extremely important that we were able to not only recycle the clothing, but be able to provide it to an organisation that would be able to benefit from it, which is why we chose EFI.”
Gladstone’s Rio Tinto Alcan Yarwun isn’t the only business in the area embracing Endeavour’s efforts to reduce waste.
Boyne Smelters, which is part-owned by Rio Tinto Alcan, donates about 150kg of damaged work clothes each week.
“It’s very encouraging to see such large companies support Endeavour Foundation’s waste strategies,” said Endeavour CEO David Barbagallo.
“By donating to Endeavour they are reducing landfill by recycling unwanted items, while also helping us provide opportunities for people with a disability.”
To find out how you can donate unwanted items to Endeavour call 1800 11 7247. Quality items will be on-sold through Endeavour’s retail initiative Endeavour Recycled Clothing, while unwearable items will be turned into industrial cleaning cloth.
All proceeds go to supporting people with a disability.
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