Ryman resident George ‘Shorty’ Madeley is a man of tidy and sustainable habits.
He’s up early every day to tour the seven bin rooms in his Ryman village, tidying, sorting and making sure everything is where it should be. It's exercise with a purpose that adds up to as much as 3km in steps in his daily exercise routine.
Shorty also checks that items have gone into the right bins, and he gathers paper, newspapers and paper shopping bags. Rather than see them end up in landfill, he bags them neatly, ready for delivery to local animal rescue organisations, who put them to good use.
“Every morning I get up at 4.45am. I’m ex-military, so my body’s got used to it. I fold newspapers for 30 minutes to an hour per day, and I shred A4 paper.”
“Each week, I drop off the shredded paper to be used for bird cages. They were buying it previously, but now I supply about two full 12-litre rubbish bags a week. I’m already onto my second shredder!"
Shorty has also helped improve recycling practices around the village by suggesting clearer signage.
“I asked the village team to organise signage in Mandarin and English after noticing bottles ending up in the general waste.”
While things have improved, he says there is always more that can be done.
“I don’t say anything about the lack of rinsing… but I could,” he laughs.
Shorty and his wife Christine have long been committed recyclers. Although he hasn’t had a pet since childhood, Shorty says supporting animal organisations was an easy choice.
“I’m doing this because someone else is going to benefit. And because I want to,” he says simply.
Shorty at his sorting station, where he neatly folds and bundles up newspapers ready for delivery to Bird Barn and the SPCA.
His village manager says Shorty is a true sustainability superstar.
“Shorty does a wonderful job collecting the newspapers and then taking them to an animal rescue organisation.
“He does this in his spare time and is one of the village’s many fantastic volunteers.
“He’s always smiling and willing to help others. We are very fortunate to have him help us keep our village looking pristine.”
For Shorty, a good day starts early, includes up to 3km of walking and ends with something useful done for someone else. There’s no fuss about it, just a routine he’s chosen because he wants to, and because it keeps his home looking good for the people who live there.
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