Port Macquarie locals are leading the circular charge after re-homing more than 22,700 items and saving $282,000 by opting for pre-loved rather than new during Australia's biggest annual second-hand shopping event, Garage Sale Trail.
Results from the 2024 Garage Sale Trail show Port Macquarie residents, closely following Central Coast, sold and purchased the second most items, reusing a staggering 13 tonnes.
NSW also came out as the best performing State, reusing 178 tonnes of items.
NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Executive Director of Programs and Innovation, Alexandra Geddes congratulates the people of NSW, particularly those in the Port Macquarie, for embracing a circular attitude.
"This data shows how the seemingly small act of choosing second-hand delivers powerful economic, environmental and social benefits," Ms Geddes said.
"13 tonnes of items have been saved from ending up in landfill thanks to the Port Macquarie community embracing reuse and shopping at garage sales.
"The average Port Macquarie garage sale organiser took home $519. With cost-of-living pressures, we know second-hand shopping is a popular, affordable and savvy way to turn things you no longer need into extra cash.
"Even more encouraging is the shifting attitudes across the community, with 88 per cent of participants more likely to resell items at future garage sales or online marketplaces and 90 per cent of sellers saying they avoided sending items to landfill.
"NSW 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."
The report follows the National Guidelines for Measuring Reuse created by Monash University and draws on research recently completed by Charitable Reuse Australia and the NSW Environment Protection Authority.
