Recycling Corks in the Light Regional Council area
Wine and champagne corks are collected from various drop off points across Australia by community groups such as Girl Guides Australia, Friends of the Zoos and Green Collect in Melbourne and MND (Motor Neuron Disease) Victoria. These groups recycle the corks to raise funds for their initiatives and programs.
The corks are sent to manufacturers where they are recycled and used in products such as floor tiles, horse-float mats, boat decking, kindergarten flooring, and inners for hockey and cricket balls.
Some collection points will also accept plastic corks for recycling, they are identified below.
The cork recycling drop-off locations near you include:
Gawler Guide Hall
Todd St
Gawler SA 5118
Gawler Visitor Centre
Lyndoch Rd
Gawler SA 5118
Barossa Valley Public Library
10 Murray St
Nuriootpa SA 5355
Barossa Valley Guide Hall
Light Pass Rd
Light Pass SA 5355
About Cork Oak Trees
- Corks are derived from the bark of the tree.
- They must be 25 years old before their first harvest.
- A further 9 years must pass before another harvest can be made – this helps to ensure that cork is a sustainably-harvested resource.
- They are grown mainly in Portugal, northern Africa and the Western Mediterranean.
- Cork Oak trees provide valuable habitat for a wide variety of birds and wildlife.
Importance of Recycling Cork
- Extends the useful life of the material.
- Reduces the demand placed on the cork plantations.
- Saves money by reducing imports of material (approximately 550 tonnes of cork is imported into Australia annually).
