TWO pre-worn street sweeper brushes donated by the City of Kalamunda to Perth Zoo – saving them from landfill – are now being used as scratching posts for rhinos.

City of Kalamunda Mayor Margaret Thomas said the upcycling initiative was a benefit to the city’s sustainability and a credit to waste service’s ingenuity in finding new ways to use old items.

“This innovative idea not only supports the city’s sustainability efforts but also contributes to the well-being of the animals at the Zoo,” she said.

“This is a fantastic example of our waste services team thinking outside the box to support waste reduction through reuse to deliver great outcomes.”

City of Kalamunda officers contacted Perth Zoo after a team member recognised the brushes’ potential for repurposing as scratching posts for rhinos.

Once it was confirmed that the brushes would benefit the rhinos, they were delivered on October 18, where rhinos Memphis, and his son Bakari, quickly got their first experience with their new scratching posts.

Rhinos have small hairs all over their bodies, and when they find the right spot to scratch, they can react with as much enthusiasm as a house pet, kicking out their legs and raising their tails.

The street sweeper brushes, once tied securely to the enclosure fence, will provide a durable and safe way for Memphis and Bakari to scratch and rub, replicating natural behaviours.

The City of Kalamunda confirmed they will look to upcycle more used street-sweepers and extend their use by sending them to Perth Zoo.

For more information on the City’s waste services or to participate in upcoming waste reduction events, visit the Kalamunda website or contact the city’s waste services team on 9257 9999.