Fun and engaging waste education


Garage Sale Trail is a vehicle for councils to engage with the community about waste avoidance in a fun way.

Councils get involved to promote and encourage reuse in their communities as well as to educate about illegal dumping and highlight other waste services they offer. 

​​To make it easy, councils are provided with ready-made waste education resources, including a series of online reuse workshops for residents, and because it's an idea people love, the community is highly motivated and engaged. 

Garage Sale Trail changes attitudes and behaviour

71%
of sellers would not have
​held a garage sale otherwise.
Get new people involved.
86%
are more likely to reduce waste at home following participation.
An effective way to talk about waste. 
76%
​of councils state the program improved waste education in their community.
Get the reuse message out there.

Spreading the waste avoidance message

In 2019, Garage Sale Trail reached over 8 million people with the reuse message.  The overall cumulative media reach was over 15 million people with a further 3 million people reached through social media. As a member council, you benefit from the national campaign and gain access to media and community engagement resources to help you generate local awareness and positive media.
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A waste inspired story promoting council tip shops
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Waste education resources are available to download for your waste calendar to use year round
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A series of social media tiles shared through Garage Sale Trail and council channels to educate the community on waste issues
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Artwork designed with council branding to use on garbage trucks
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REUSE boxes printed and supplied by Garage Sale Trail used to promote the program in a council library
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Yarriambiack Shire Council had some fun with their photo shoot to promote their big Garage Sale Trail event
"Fantastic way to declutter, raise funds & reduce landfill"
Resident, Yass Valley Council NSW
"It's fun, easy and helpful to everyone, including the environment!"
Resident, Shire of Esperance WA

Council Case Studies

Promoting Council Facilities
Brisbane City Council & City of Tea Tree Gully
Brisbane City Council hosted two Tip Shop sales and Tea Tree Gully organised a library sale to promote reuse, waste reduction and other council facilities and waste services.
read more
Hosting a Sale at a Council Facility
Huon Valley Council
Huon Valley Council’s Reuse Shop Sale attracted over 1,200 shoppers and enabled them to promote the reuse shop and their waste contractors while providing a new audience with a way to get involved in Garage Sale Trail.  Watch the presentation video to learn more.
read more
Environmental Community Engagement
City of Stonnington
City of Stonnington use the program to promote sustainable living and practical solutions for waste as well as an opportunity to promote council and engage residents with environmental messages. Watch the short video presentation to learn more.
read more
Integrated Marketing & Waste Transfer Station Sale
Shire of Kalamunda
Shire of Kalamunda used the marketing tools and communication assets provided in the council dashboard to promote the event and a council run sale at their waste transfer station. The day helped people to think again about what is considered waste and what can be reused. Watch the video presentations to learn more.
read more

Waste Education Media

See how councils use Garage Sale Trail to create awareness and a solution to illegal dumping and reuse through the media.
See how Liverpool Plains Shire Council used the campaign to highlight their innovative approach to waste and talk about the issue of illegal dumping on Prime News 7
Steve Beaman from NSW EPA, suggests an extra 6 million tonnes of our waste could be reused through programs like Garage Sale Trail.  Broadcast on Ten News