Success in the South: Whyalla City Council

As South Australia continues to pave the way in sustainable waste management, Whyalla Council is making waves by engaging their community in the Garage Sale Trail program. Joining over 80 councils nationwide, Whyalla Council has embraced the opportunity to take a community-driven approach to reducing waste and promoting a circular economy.

Now in its 15th year, the Garage Sale Trail program is a key waste education initiative that sees a two-weekend festival of garage sales each November. Supported by councils but driven by local communities, the initiative provides a fun, accessible way for residents to reduce waste and reuse goods, all while generating economic and social benefits.
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In 2024, Whyalla saw an incredible 2,685 residents actively participating as sellers or shoppers over the two weekends of garage sales. With 74 sales and stalls across the region, the event translates to 7,259 items either sold or reused—helping to divert 42% of these items otherwise destined for landfill.

A recently released report from Taverner Research Group highlights the substantial benefits the program brought to Whyalla, with $37,663 raised for local households, community groups, and charities. Shoppers also saved an impressive $90,000 by opting to buy secondhand rather than new, underlining the economic and environmental benefits of shifting to a circular economy.
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​WYALLA MEDIA EXAMPLES:​

Council Waste Officer Charuka Sanduni has observed the positive effect the program has for the vitality of reuse initiatives for the area, alongside the connections residents form over the weekends

“Garage Sale Trail helps neighbours connect, make some money and keep their good stuff out of landfill.”
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Regional Wins: MidCoast Council

​With the transition to a circular economy now firmly on the agenda across New South Wales and significant per capita waste generation targets to achieve, MidCoast Council are showing how putting sustainability first reaps rewards for the region.

The program saw over 6% of the MidCoast population get involved in 2022 for instance, with 6,308 residents choosing to sell or shop secondhand over the two weekends of garage sales.

Results of the annual report into the Garage Sale Trail program in MidCoast have shown a win-win for council and residents alike, with 84,252 kilograms of items reused and $120,030 generated for the local economy through the sale of unwanted household goods.

In their first year of partnering with the Garage Sale Trail, MidCoast Council exceeded their initial targets with over 80 residents registering either a group or individual sale.

MIDCOAST MEDIA EXAMPLES:

Manager of MidCoast Council Waste Services, Mr David Rees, explained

​ “It’s a great way to reuse items you may no longer want. Keeping stuff in use for as long as you can by buying or selling it at a garage sale makes sense for the planet and makes cents for participants. It’s the circular economy in action and it’s something all MidCoast residents can get behind”

As well as creating short term impact, the latest research also reveals longer term benefits, with 27% of participants saying they will now buy secondhand products over new in the future.

The impacts extend well beyond waste too. The average seller in MidCoast pocketed $1,363 and met 47 people in their local community, highlighting the social and economic impacts circular economy programs can bring.
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