Happy Earth Club
How to reuse, recycle, and
compost your OHMINME threads
Has your old OHMINME collar, harness or lead seen better days and need to be replaced?
Introducing the HAPPY EARTH CLUB, our reuse & recycle initiative that allows you to return your used hardware and enjoy savings on your next purchase - created with your refurbished hardware!
How does it work?
Send us an email to hello@ohminme.com.au and let us know which item/s you would like to recycle, and how (option 1 or 2).
Post the item/s back to us by either:
Remove the hardware (buckles, rings, slide adjusters, snap hooks). This can be done carefully using sharp scissors. Cut the remaining material into smaller pieces, and toss them in your home compost bin (check out the detailed guide further down this page). The hardware can be posted to us in a padded envelope.
Return the item/s to us in one piece (kindly give it a good clean first), and we'll handle the hardware removal and material disposal for you. Whether it's getting composted in our own backyard system or sent to UPPAREL to be transformed into new material, you can rest easy knowing that nothing will end up in landfill.
Once we receive your item/s, we will send you a gift voucher via email for every collar, harness and/or lead hardware set sent back for reuse.
How much will you save?
- Collar - A$13
- Harness - A$15
- Lead - A$14
If you send back one harness plus one lead hardware set, that’s A$29 off your next harness and lead purchase!
- It prevents perfectly good material from becoming waste.
- Any waste that is not recycled ends up on landfill sites.
- It means that less new material needs to be produced, saving energy and resources.
- You can save on your next purchase, and we can save on production cost.
- We do not accept item/s from other brands.
- To qualify for the discount, a purchase of a collar, harness and/or lead is necessary.
- Limit one voucher code for each item purchased from OHMINME. Only valid on purchases of a collar, harness and/or lead.
- OHMINME reserves the right to refuse unsafe trades from participation - only working parts are valid.
- Processing begins when your used item/s are received by us.
- OHMINME is not responsible for lost, late, or missing submissions.
Can't join our reuse & recycle program? No worries! Here's a guide on how to compost your old OHMINME threads and save them from going to landfill.
The good news is that the majority of our products are home compostable without much effort. All you need is a compost bin, or access to healthy garden soil that can be left undisturbed for a long time, and a pair of sharp scissors.
New to composting? Take a look at this beginner's guide and discover how to create your own black gold.
How to compost your
OHMINME threads
Start by removing any trims and hardware (buckles, rings, rivets, tags, buttons, etc.) using sharp scissors, and put these aside for later.
Cut-up the material into smaller pieces. Remember, the smaller the pieces, the easier it will be to break down naturally. This may require some patience, but it’s worth it!
Place the fabric scraps into your compost, or bury it in your garden. Natural fabric is part of the "browns", just like dry leaves and paper. To ensure proper breakdown, it shouldn't make up more than 25% of your compost pile.
Lastly, let's take a look at the trims and hardware we removed earlier.
Washable paper label: can be cut-up and added to your compost.
Bamboo tag: will break down eventually but at a snail's pace. We suggest you attach it to another collar, harness, or maybe a keyring?
Coconut shell button: while completely biodegradable, we reckon these little beauties are the ultimate spare buttons to hoard for those moments when one goes AWOL.
Buckles/rings/rivets/snap hooks/any other metal bit: made of brass or aluminium which is infinitely recyclable. Search online to find your nearest recycling drop-off location, or better yet, send it back to us for a second chance to shine!
How long will it take for the material to biodegrade (to break down naturally in a way that is not harmful)? This depends on the type of material, and the conditions of your compost. As a general guide:
- Hemp and linen - 2 weeks
- Organic cotton - 5 months
- Organic merino wool - 6 to 9 months
- Cork leather fabric - 1 to 3 years (depends on the backing fabric - we exclusively use organic cotton which is the best option available)
By comparison, synthetic petrochemical-based materials like polyester, nylon, acrylic, PVC, and PU leathers (often marketed as vegan leather, because plastic doesn't sound as nice!) may take anywhere from 20 to 500+ years to break down, leaving behind harmful microplastics.
