Corks
As of 2011, there is no longer a need for Girl Guides to collect corks for recycling. Other community organisations continue to collect corks for other purposes. If you would like your corks reused, please contact Margaret on 53324270 and she will pass them on to the local Motor Neurone group.
History of Guiding & Corks
Prior to 1990, discarded corks were destined for landfill. Now they are collected by Guide groups throughout Australia as part of their environmental and fundraising activities. The Guides Australia Cork Recycling Program has resucorkimagelted in the collection of over 90 million corks (9800 tones) nation-wide over the past 11 years.
These corks are sold to ACL Comcork - an Australian owned company that uses 100% recycled material in their blend of rubber and cork range of flooring. This is then used in kindergartens, gyms, retirement homes, schools and boats.
The funds raised help Guides Australia develop its outdoor activities program, resources and facilities for 40,000 Australian Guides.
In the Ballarat Region, the Cork Recycling Program is co-ordinated by Julie-Anne. If you would like to contribute to the many thousands of corks collected by Ballarat Guides, we would be grateful for your assistance. Your cork may well end up as a place mat, coaster, floor tile, gasket, dart board or hockey ball.
Did you know ....... Cork is a natural product from the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber). The cork tree is not harvested until it is 25 years old. The cork is seasoned for six months then boiled in purified water to remove contaminants. They get cut, polished, washed in a hydrogen peroxide solution, dried, branded and coated with silicone and paraffin.
Cork is one of the few forms of packaging that is completely environmentally friendly - it is renewable, fully recyclable, biodegradable and totally natural.
The first cork used in champagne bottles was in 1680, an idea of the French Benedictine monk Dom Perignon.
Cork is inert, lightweight, impermeable to liquids and flexible. It can be compressed then recover to its original size. It is also fire resistant, hard-wearing and a great insulator.