SWAN Hill hospital is supporting an initiative to recycle little blue towels that will create employment opportunities for people with a disability while also assisting people affected by breast cancer.
The initiative was prompted by a doctor in Melbourne who noticed the unfortunate waste of the blue towels used before surgery.
Due to health regulations, the towels have previously been disposed of.
Dr David Hays, an anaesthetist in Melbourne, was discussing the idea of recycling the towels with Dick Phillips while both were participating in the Murray Meander in 2015.
After months of planning the pair developed the Little Blue Towel project, which now has 10 rural and 20 metropolitan hospitals on board.
The towels are collected by Dr Hays and Mr Phillips and instead of being disposed of, they are taken to Echuca.
A new business named Laundry Mates receives them, before they are sent to two local community services agencies.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Monday’s Guardian (July 4).
