The Port Macquarie Hastings region is one of Australia's biggest supporters of second-hand items based on the overwhelming success of last year's Garage Sale Trail.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council (PMHC) was among the top performers in both the state and national leaderboards, ranking second in New South Wales and fourth nationally for the highest number of sales and stalls.
According to data from Garage Sale Trail, there were almost 9,500 residents who participated as sellers or shoppers with approximately 18,400 second-hand items sold – 35 per cent of which would have ended up as landfill.
Held over two weekends in November, the Garage Sale Trail is a community-led and Council-backed reuse and behaviour change program that supports residents to buy and sell second-hand through garage sales.
"We are incredibly grateful to our community for their enthusiasm, support and willingness to get involved. This shared effort is what makes Garage Sale Trail such a powerful local movement," said Corrine de Mestre, PMHC Waste Projects Officer.
"We're excited to build on this momentum and bring our community together again this year to make a positive impact on our environment, earn a little extra cash and strengthen our community spirit."
The 2025 Garage Sale Trail results for Port Macquarie Hastings included:
- 9,461 estimated number of residents who took part as sellers or shoppers
- 221 garage sales and thrift markets were held
- 18,446 second-hand items were sold and reused over two weekends - 35 per cent of these items would otherwise have gone to landfill
- $761 average takings for a household sale
- $168,499 earned by local households, community groups and charities
- $242,000 saved by shoppers buying second-hand instead of new
- 11 tonnes of items sold and kept out of landfill
- 81 per cent felt more connected to the local community after participating
Local results combine registration data from national participant survey results and established reuse, emissions and economic methodologies.
This year's Garage Sale Trail will be held on November 7-8 and 14-15. Visit www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au and follow PMHC on Facebook for updates and more information.
