A Caroline Springs family has turned the act of recycling into a game, a valuable life lesson and a way to give back to the community.
The Jassal family has recycled bottles and cans as part of Victoria’s container deposit scheme for nearly two years now, donating money earned from collections.
Mum Sonia Jassal said her sons, Armaan and Aryan Singh, enjoy the recycling process.
“They rush up to me saying, ‘mummy, mummy, look, I’ve found another one we can recycle’,” Sonia said.
Sonia said while living in India, she used to separate containers with her family before collection.
“We’ve seen the effects of pollution and waste, and we know future generations will suffer because of it. If we start now, we can do our part for society and take pride in it,” Sonia said.
She has now turned the initiative into a teachable moment.
“We have a Sikh practice called Dasvandh, where we give 10 per cent of our income back to the community. It’s something I teach my kids, and when they return containers, it helps them to learn about the importance of giving back to the community,” Sonia said.
The children donate money raised to the local Gurudwara, a tradition Sonia learnt from her parents.
“It’s a three-part process, we’re protecting nature, we’re giving back to society, and I believe in Karma, so it’s also a spiritual practice,” she said.
“Even if it makes a one per cent difference, when everyone does it, it all adds up.”
Find your nearest refund point: cdsvic.org.au
