Next time you are planning to throw your bottle cap away, think twice as it can be used to make prosthetics for children using 3D technology.
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Cassie Hodges, the Wagga co-ordinator for Lids4Kids, said the initiative is a fantastic way to put items usually headed for landfill towards a good cause.
"I found out about Lids4Kids on Facebook, and I saw some friends of mine in Goulburn had started it up there," she said.
"They got 30,000 lids from just one drop-off, and that just amazed me.
"I then wanted to start it here in Wagga because there wasn't one."
The idea comes from Envision Hands, a not-for-profit organisation based in Wheelers Hill in Victoria, which shreds low and high density (Numbers 2 and 4) bottle lids to construct arms and hands.
According to Envision, approximately 250 lids are used to make a small hand. However, the wastage ends up being about 500 lids by the time it has been made.
For an arm, approximately 500 lids are used with wastage of approximately 1000 caps.
The organisation currently uses all flat soft drink, water and milk bottle tops, including those from long-life containers.
Ms Hodges is putting the information out there, and businesses have got on board.
"They use a $1 bin or cardboard box and stick on the sign I send them," she said.
"Once it's full, I will pick it up from them and washing the lids and sorting the lids."
Ms Hodges will then sort them into colours before transporting them to Canberra to Envision Hands' warehouse.
Then, they are shredded and then fed through an extruder, which produces an ink-like filament.
That filament is then used in conjunction with 3D software to print the mobility aids.
Ms Hodges said the children are also allowed to help design the hands and arms they will receive.
"They can pick their colours, and there was this one kid that had a Batman one," she said. "This is a great way to recycle the lids because they can't go through with the bottles. It's a really great initiative."
Ms Hodges said anyone who wants to get involved could reach out on the Lids4Kids - Riverina NSW Facebook page.
They are looking for more businesses to sign and for people to put their hands up to be co-ordinators for other towns in the Riverina.
For more information on Envision.
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