Winning grin: John Eastwood and "Buffy" from YADA are all smiles after their association won the Fraser Environment Award for their recycling operation. Picture: Luke Fuda
MEMBERS of Liverpool's Young Adults Disabled Association were the winners of the Australia Day Fraser Environment Award.
For the past 27 years YADA has assisted countless local residents and businesses to remove and recycle household material, as well as clean up the streets.
In the past year alone, YADA recycled more than 430 tonnes of paper, 144 tonnes of metal and 22 tonnes of plastic.
The association is made up entirely of volunteers and prides itself on providing a supportive working environment for the disabled community and unemployed local youth.
Founder John Eastwood said it was an honour to see his association recognised for the work members do, and to know that the community held the volunteers in such high regard.
"I started this organisation 28 years ago and today we have around 60 volunteers that are part of the team," he said.
"We recycle everything, and the little money we make through reselling to manufacturers goes to support the local disabled, the elderly and their carers.
"I have been recycling scrap since I was child, we didn't grow up with a lot of money so it became a necessary part of my life," he said.
"I have passed on my skills to the volunteers, and they love coming along and being part of a community."
Mr Eastwood said in one month, YADA will sort through and recycle an average of 40 tonnes of material.
The people who assist YADA in its recycling programs are not only community volunteers, but are also participants of the Community Service and Intensive Corrections programs and Work for the Dole programs.