The festival will feature over 120 events across the state from October 19 to 4 November 4, including the launch of the Bega Remakery with a Turning Trash Into Cash: Innovation in Up-cycling workshop at Funhouse Studio on Friday, October 26.

The remakery project, organised by Funhouse Studio director Cayce Hill with help from Bega Valley Shire Council, has introduced a collection point at Wallagoot Waste Depot for unwanted electrical equipment destined for landfill.

“It’s an exciting new initiative that coincides with the launch,” Ms Hill said.

The launch will feature presentations by Macrozamia Environmental’s Pat Guinane, Boomerang Bags Sapphire Coast chapter’s Dörte Planert and Topsy-Turvy Intimates’ creator Indigo Walker. 

Mr Guinane has worked on housing projects using recycled materials overseas and in Australia, including the use of a building material in India made from juice boxes.

“The juice boxes contain cardboard, aluminium and plastic which they shred and separate. The cardboard becomes paper and the aluminium and plastic becomes like a plywood board. We use pine while they use a waste product,” he said.

“It’s things like this we could do here if we have the investment.”

Other events will be held in Newcastle, Lismore, Wollongong, Byron Bay, the Central Coast, Armidale and Tamworth.

“There will be a National Future of Work Summit with international speakers on tackling the fourth industrial revolution and the Reserve Bank providing insights on the future of the economy,” Spark Festival program director Maxine Sherrin said.

“CSIRO and Data61 will run events for children to get hands-on experiences with robots and drones and some other events will include a startup pitchfest to Indian investors and even Australia’s first Cannabis Expo focusing on medicinal purposes.”