Green Yakka

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Green Yakka is an Aboriginal-led not-for-profit social enterprise providing labour hire & zero waste services in Sydney & Illawarra.

We create jobs for people facing barriers through hands-on work that tackles waste and cares for the land ♻️🌿

30/10/2026

🎃👻 Before you summon a bin full of plastic decorations, lolly wrappers and one-night-only costumes, here are a few tricks for a lower-waste Halloween from our Green Yakka zero waste team:

🕸️ Ditch the fake cobwebs
Synthetic spiderwebs can trap birds and other native wildlife. Try spooky decorations made from cardboard, sticks, leaves or other natural materials instead.

🧛 Give old things another life
Raid the wardrobe, swap with friends or hit the op shop for costumes. Old sheets, cardboard boxes and fabric scraps can also become ghosts, bats and other decorations instead of buying new.

🍬 Keep trick-or-treating tidy
Take a reusable bag or bucket and make sure lolly wrappers make it into the bin. Loose wrappers can become litter and pose risks to birds.

🎃 Don’t bin your jack-o’-lantern
If you’re carving a pumpkin, make the most of the edible parts, then compost what’s left where appropriate. Pumpkins can also make a natural alternative to plastic decorations.

The best Halloween waste is the kind that comes back from the dead... reused, repurposed or recycled ♻️🧟

Have a frightfully low waste Halloween! 🎃

27/10/2026

We had a great day at the Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo last Friday! 🙌

Our Green Yakka team was kept busy chatting to event-goers about the work we do and connecting with other local Indigenous businesses. Thank you to Bimbala Collective for hosting a fantastic, well-attended event!

Check out some of our snaps 📸

23/10/2026

A little behind the scenes from some recent Green Yakka waste audits ♻️🧤

Our zero waste team has been busy getting hands-on sorting, separating and analysing waste to help businesses and organisations get a clearer picture of what’s happening across their waste streams.

Green Yakka delivers practical waste audits across Sydney and the Illawarra, including FOGO waste audits, helping organisations identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve separation and keep more valuable resources out of landfill.

If your organisation wants to better understand its waste and where improvements can be made, our team can help 💪

👉 Learn more about our zero waste services: https://www.greenyakka.com.au/our-services/

22/10/2026

Green Yakka is ready to go at the Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo! 💚

Jennifer Lare, our Employee Support Coordinator, and the team are set up and looking forward to a great day of conversations and connections across the Illawarra.

Come and say hi and learn how we can work together to create positive outcomes for people, communities and Country through our purpose-driven labour hire and zero waste services 🌱

📍 Novotel Wollongong Northbeach
⏰ Here until 2pm

We’d love to meet you! 👋

21/10/2026

The Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo is on this Friday! 👋

There’s still time to register and come along to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and organisations from across the Illawarra.

If you’re looking for labour hire or zero waste solutions, exploring Indigenous procurement opportunities or simply want to learn more about Green Yakka, come and have a yarn with our team.

We’ll be there sharing how our Aboriginal-led, not-for-profit social enterprise creates employment opportunities and positive outcomes for people, communities and Country.

📍 Novotel Wollongong Northbeach
📅 Friday 23 October
⏰ 10.30am–2.00pm
🎟️ Register: https://events.humanitix.com/illawarra-indigenous-business-expo

Come by our stall and say hello! 👋

30/09/2026

If you’re spending time in parks, beaches or public spaces, or gathering outdoors with friends and family this long weekend, a few simple actions can help protect our environment 🌿👇

🗑️ Take your rubbish home — and pick up any extra you see
🚶 Stick to designated paths to protect native plants and wildlife
♻️ Choose reusable drink bottles, containers and bags
🐕 Keep pets on leads where required and be mindful of local wildlife
🦎 Secure food scraps and waste so wildlife isn’t harmed
🔥 Follow local fire restrictions and guidelines
🌱 Leave spaces as you found them — or better

Small actions add up. Help us create a better future for people and Country! 🌏

29/09/2026

Why Waste Separation Matters ♻️🗑️ Getting waste in the right bin might sound simple, but it’s one of the biggest factors in whether materials actually get recycled.

When food waste, soft plastics and recyclables end up mixed together, the entire load can be contaminated – meaning even if most of it is recyclable, it’s all sent to landfill.

Our waste audits show it’s not uncommon for over half of what’s in general waste bins to be recoverable with the right systems and education.

Here are the main waste categories to watch for – and how to sort them correctly 👇

🍎 Food waste and organics – Keep food scraps, coffee grounds and garden clippings out of general waste. Compost at home, or use your council’s green-lid bin where available. Diverting organics prevents methane emissions and creates compost or renewable energy instead.

📦 Paper and cardboard – Only clean, dry items belong in recycling. Tear off and recycle the clean sections of greasy or food-stained boxes (like pizza boxes), and place the rest in general waste or organics.

☕ Coffee cups – Most takeaway coffee cups have a thin plastic lining and can’t go in standard recycling. Look for cup recycling stations (some cafés and offices now have them), or switch to reusable cups whenever possible.

🧃 Soft plastics – Never put these in your household recycling bin. Collect them separately and take to dedicated drop-off points or recovery partners. Some councils and businesses also offer commercial collection for soft plastics.

🥤 Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) items – Bottles and cans can often be returned for a refund or placed in the correct recycling stream. These materials can be recycled again and again with minimal loss of quality.

Getting these basics right improves recycling rates, protects our planet, and helps councils, businesses and households move closer to a zero waste future ♻️🌏

29/09/2026

🌿 Thinking about planting natives this season? Here’s how to choose the right ones for your area 👇

✅ Start local: Choose species native to your region – your local council or nursery can help.
✅ Think layers: Mix groundcovers, shrubs and trees to recreate natural structure.
✅ Avoid invaders: Steer clear of fast-spreading species that can crowd out natives.
✅ Plant for pollinators: Include flowering natives to attract bees, birds and butterflies.

Native plants aren’t just beautiful – they’re built for your local environment. The right species support biodiversity, conserve water, and provide food and habitat for native wildlife.

🌾 Are you a business or council? Green Yakka can provide skilled bush regeneration teams to support your next project. Find out more: https://www.greenyakka.com.au/

22/09/2026

See you at the Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo! 👋

The Illawarra Indigenous Business Expo is a community-led event celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, culture, creativity and connection.

Come and meet the Green Yakka team and learn how our Aboriginal-led not-for-profit social enterprise creates positive outcomes for people, communities and Country through our labour hire and zero waste services.

📍 Novotel Wollongong Northbeach
📅 Friday 23 October
⏰ 10.30am to 2.00pm

Whether you're looking to connect with local Aboriginal businesses, explore procurement opportunities, discover new suppliers or learn more about what we do, stop by our stall and say hello 👋

🎟️ Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/illawarra-indigenous-business-expo

Thank you to the Bimbala Collective for hosting this great community event 🙏

31/08/2026

What makes Green Yakka labour hire different from traditional labour hire?

We’re a social enterprise creating job pathways for people who face barriers to employment, including former refugees, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people and others who deserve a fair go.

Green Yakka provides:
💪 Meaningful, paid work with Award wages and conditions
🎓 Work readiness training, site inductions and on-the-job learning
🦺 PPE, safety training and on-site supervision
🤝 Ongoing support, including transport, translation and one-on-one mentoring
💼 Opportunities to build skills, confidence and experience and move into long-term employment

Learn more about the Green Yakka difference: https://www.greenyakka.com.au/about/why-choose-us/

Address

5/82 Wentworth Street
Wollongong, NSW
2505

Telephone

+61242168635

Website

https://greenyakka.com.au/

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