Seaside Scavenge Swaps Clothing for Our Beach’s Rubbish!

Seaside Scavenge is a clothing market encouraging behavioural change. Instead of selling second hand clothes for cash, the team at Seaside Scavenge swap litter from around Australia’s beaches for tokens used to make a purchase. Gear Supply encourages this environmental angle of a traditional rummage sale and spoke with AJ, the founder of Seaside Scavenge, about the concept’s birth and why it matters.

Q: Where did the idea come from?

AJ: “I had just come back from Chile where I had seen so much rubbish. I also realised how much stuff I had in boxes that I didn’t need. This situation was common to a lot of young people I knew. So I decided to do a clothes swap and a beach clean up at the same time. It took a few failed attempts to get it right but I’m glad I persisted.”

Q: How does the value system work?

AJ: “For every ten pieces of rubbish people receive a painted bottle cap (see below). The clothing and trinkets we have are priced either one, two or three bottle caps. All pieces of rubbish are worth the same whether it’s a tiny piece of micro plastic or a piece of clothing.”

Q: What has been the reactions at the Seaside Scavenge’s?

AJ: “We have people come over and think that it is just a normal market and try to buy a piece of clothing. We tell them that they have to pick up rubbish, and they usually say, ‘There’s not any rubbish around!’ But once they take a closer look it’s not long before they’re back with a handful. Then when they receive their first painted bottle cap the fun begins and they’re off hunting more trash.

Q: So, what’s next?

AJ: “Despite the great efforts of councils that employ people to clean up, there is still a lot of rubbish that washes onto our shores. They need our help. Did you know just one cigarette butt contaminates the surrounding 50L of water (which is the equivalent to a full bathtub). Or that we have produced enough plastic bags to wrap the earth 776 times! I think we can make a difference working together."

Q: Which beaches will the Seaside Scavenge be appearing?

AJ: “Visit our site, seasidescavenge.org, get in contact with us, follow us, or turn up and help at one of our Seaside Scavenges. We're doing a big East-Coast tour starting in Burleigh Heads on September 24th, Mooloolaba on October 1st oct, Brisbane October 8th, Byron Bay October 22nd, Newcastle November 5th, Port Macquarie November 12th, and Bondi in late November either the 20th or 27th. Keep an eye on our facebook page for updates.”