Bega Valley Shire residents have made a significant impact on waste reduction by extending the life of pre-loved items and diverting them from landfill, results from last year's national Garage Sale Trail event show.
Launched in 2010, the Garage Sale Trail is Australia's festival of pre-loved items, offering residents an exciting way to reduce waste, make some money and connect with the community.
Council's Waste Education Officer, Rebecca Bruce, said results of a recently released report on last year's event highlighted our community's commitment to reduce waste.
"Bega Valley Shire residents hosted an impressive 39 garage sales, attracting nearly 1,600 enthusiastic participants," Ms Bruce said.
"As a community, we prevented 6,000 kilograms of pre-loved items from ending up in landfill.
"Programs like the Garage Sale Trail are important in shifting perceptions of second-hand goods and encouraging reuse, turning recycling into an enjoyable activity."
Ms Bruce also highlighted the financial benefits of participating in the event.
"The 2023 Garage Sale Trail in the Bega Valley generated more than $12,000, with the average garage sale organiser taking home $307. Shoppers also benefited from access to cheaper, second-hand products.
"These results confirm the initiative is a fun way to divert valuable resources from landfill while enabling people to connect and make some money on the side."
Residents interested in scoring a bargain or turning their stash into cash can now register their interest in the 2024 event, which takes place on 9-10 and 16-17 November, at Garage Sale Trail 2024.
