Recycling that rewards communities
WISE is a community-led recycling initiative that supports local businesses and gives back to people and the planet.
Who we are
The WISE Recycling Company began, as do many other well-known brands, completely on accident. Well, kind of.
To tell the complete story of WISE, we need to go back in time to 2018, when BLAEK Store first opened its doors in Manly, Sydney. Founded as a sustainable retailer, the company offered a huge range of men and women’s essentials, clothing and accessories.
Everything we stocked was refillable, reusable, repairable and recyclable.
The company also offered clothing repair programs in store and various recycling programs. While our passion for sustainable fashion and the environment was strong, our desire to recycle and educate others grew stronger than our desire to sell clothes and consumables.
Alongside this was a growing interest in recycling from the BLAEK Store community, with requests to expand the program gaining momentum by the day.
And so, at the end of January 2024, we decided to close our shop doors and focus our attention on our recycling program.
Pulling together everything we’ve learned from our past life as a sustainable retailer, we decided to found a new recycling initiative. One that put an emphasis on the key components of Waste, Innovation, Sustainability and Environmental impact.
Thus, the WISE Recycling Company was born!
But that’s only half the story…
For many, getting into recycling can be a tall order. And for those doing the hard work it can often feel like a thankless job. That’s why we wanted to give back to the people, communities and businesses who are committed to building a more sustainable future.
We decided to bring all of that together through our Rewards program. Now people who recycle can access exclusive discounts, savings and benefits from local businesses who are environmentally-focused.
WISE is recycling that rewards you (and the planet).
We hope you’ll join us on this journey to make the world a cleaner, greener place.
What we stand for
Our values define the work that we do, and how we do it.
Impact
We actively involve individuals and local communities through education, transparency, and collaboration.
We’re committed to having a long lasting, positive impact on the planet.
Sustainability
Protecting the environment is at the forefront of all that we do.
Every action and decision we make is carefully considered with both people and planet in mind.
Community
We want to help the people who are helping the planet.
Our partnerships with environmentally conscious brands lets us give back to communities that are driving change.
Innovation
Forever looking toward responsible recycling solutions.
We enable people to make a positive impact in their local communities, turning waste into a resource.
It’s about bringing people together, through collaboration and education, to make this world a better place. That’s what WISE is all about.
– Nikki Ciancio, Founder & Director
As featured in
Meet Nikki
My path within the sustainability sector has taken on some wonderfully unexpected moments.
After co-founding BLAEK Store in 2018, and pioneering the biggest in-store recycling program across the Northern Beaches, I witnessed first-hand the awesome power of local communities and the human spirit.
Our customers were increasingly asking for more information on how to process hard-to-recycle items, the best methods for preparation, and bringing in an ever-growing amount of goods for recycling.
At a crossroads, I decided to make the shift and evolve the business from an ethical retailer into a company that could provide recycling services and a rewards program that connected environmentally-conscious businesses with local communities.
The rest, as they say, is history!
Besides WISE, I have a passion for the environment, good business and also for people impacting positive change. These have been with me ever since my early twenties, while working with NFP’s and NGO’s fighting for environmental, animal, and human rights.
When I’m not getting creative on how to use business and community to save the world, I’m enjoying it with my young family.
Making a difference (together)
Since 2020 we’ve have been partnering with some of the best recycling companies Australia has to offer.
From Textile Recyclers Australia, our textile recycler based in Sydney and Melbourne, to TerraCycle our go-to for recycling dental hygiene, make-up and shaving products.
We’ve also collaborated with environmental organisations, fellow businesses and waste management systems in order to reduce our (and our community’s) impact, whilst supporting Australian brands and small businesses.
And of course, we have our amazing community to thank for the impact we have had and will continue to have for years to come.
Waste that has been diverted from landfill
We’ve partnered with leading brands right across Australia
Teachers, students and parents are adopting the WISE Recycling Program
Want to get involved?
With WISE, recycling has never been easier! Our community love being involved in the process and can’t get enough of their monthly rewards.
