The Break O’Day Council will hold its own garage sale as part of the annual Garage Sale Trail event.

The council plans to open its tip shops at St Marys and St Helens on across October 20 and 21 for extended hours. Residents who don’t have enough items for their own garage sale are encouraged to donate them. 

All proceeds from tip shop sales will go to the St Helens and St Marys Hospital Auxiliary committees.

The Garage Sale Trail aims to reduce landfill across Australia by encouraging participants to hold garage sales to get rid of their unused items instead of taking them to the tip.

Sustainability and waste reduction is a big focus of the council, and mayor Mick Tucker said the Garage Sale Trail provided the perfect reason for the community to think about their waste.

“Obviously at the moment waste reduction is on the minds of most local governments across the nation with the introduction of China’s [National Sword Policy], but it is also something that is very important to our residents,” he said.

“We introduced recycling late last year and it triggered a lot of meaningful discussions in the community around household waste.

“This is really important as waste reduction has to start with the individual.”

Councillor Tucker said the council now asked the community to shift their focus from recycling to start thinking about reducing and reusing.

“We would love as many residents as possible to get involved in the Garage Sale Trail this year, which is as easy as registering online through www.gargesaletrail.com.au, or if they don’t have enough to host their own sale, either getting involved with a community garage sale or donating goods to our tip shops.”

“By donating to the tip shops residents will not just be getting rid of their own waste they will also be supporting our Hospital Auxiliary Committees.”

For more information visit the Break O’Day Council Facebook page.