The 2024 Garage Sale Trail in Port Macquarie successfully rehomed over 22,700 items, saving participants $282,000 and highlighting the importance of community involvement in sustainable practices.

In Port Macquarie, over 22,700 items have been successfully rehomed during the 2024 Garage Sale Trail, saving local participants a total of $282,000. This annual event, recognized as Australia’s largest second-hand shopping initiative, encourages communities to host garage sales and promotes the reuse of items over disposal.

Sponsored by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the Garage Sale Trail takes place across two weekends each year, engaging households, schools, community groups, and businesses in various locations across the nation. The 2024 event, held in November, showcased exceptional participation, with New South Wales emerging as the leading state by reusing 178 tonnes of items. Notable contributions from Port Macquarie residents accounted for 13 tonnes of this total, closely trailing behind the Central Coast region.

Alexandra Geddes, Executive Director of Programs and Innovation at the NSW EPA, emphasized the significant impact of the event, stating, “Thirteen tonnes of items have been saved from ending up in landfill thanks to the Port Macquarie community embracing reuse and shopping at garage sales.” Geddes highlighted the average revenue for garage sale hosts, noting that the typical organizer earned approximately $519 from their sale. This financial benefit is particularly relevant in the context of rising living costs, making second-hand shopping an appealing alternative for many.

Further analysis of participant attitudes revealed a notable increase in commitment to sustainable practices, with 88 percent of respondents indicating a higher likelihood of reselling items in future events or via online platforms. Additionally, 90 percent of the sellers reported that they had actively avoided sending their items to landfill.

In light of looming waste management challenges, Geddes remarked on the importance of initiatives like the Garage Sale Trail. “New South Wales is on the cusp of a waste crisis. Greater Sydney’s landfill space is predicted to run out by 2030, and initiatives like Garage Sale Trail highlight how we can all take steps and work together to transition to a circular economy,” she noted.

The report detailing these findings is crafted in accordance with the National Guidelines for Measuring Reuse created by Monash University, incorporating research conducted by Charitable Reuse Australia and the NSW EPA. The Port Macquarie Hastings Council played a crucial role, funding, coordinating, and promoting the event to encourage community involvement.

For more information and to view the full report, interested individuals can visit www.garagesaletrail.com.au/.

Source: Noah Wire Services