19 July 2021
Published 16 September 2020
There’s no better feeling than finding some pre-loved treasure at a bargain price and this year’s Moreton Bay Region Garage Sale Trail (Nov 21-22) is shaping up to be a wonderful weekend of sustainable shopping.
Mayor Peter Flannery encouraged people to get involved but emphasised the need to abide by social distancing and hygiene guidelines.
“Garage sales are a great way to give unused items around your house a second life and by reusing things we reduce the amount of goods going to landfill as waste, so this is a fantastic event,” he said.
“We’ll put up a page on Council’s website listing the locations of people who register to participate in the event but I again want to remind people of the need to take personal responsibility for their hygiene during this pandemic.
“Selling stuff you no longer need at a Garage Sale Trail is a great way to do your bit for the environment and meet some of your neighbours at the same time, which is important in such an unusual year.
“Last year it was great to see families and even neighbours come together to host sales, some garage sales even raised funds for charities including one that helped build a school in Kenya.”
According to the Gumtree’s 2019 Secondhand Economy Report, 89% of Australians have unwanted stuff and 33% admit to throwing unwanted items in the bin. Nationally these unwanted items are valued at over $43 billion.
For 2020, event organisers project that more than 2 million items will be listed for sale and diverted from landfill across over 16,000 garage sale events held over the Garage Sale Trail weekend both in person and online.
Garage Sale Trail Co-Founder Andrew Valder said for the first time ever, Australians can participate in Garage Sale Trail online, as well as face to face.
“This online element will not only work to keep people safe during the pandemic but also assist sellers in finding the perfect match for their pre-loved items – no matter their location,” he said.
“For those hosting or shopping at physical sales, we’ll also provide guidelines to ensure COVID-19 restrictions and safety precautions are in place.
“Despite our focus rightly being shifted towards the pandemic, the issue of waste certainly hasn’t gone away.
“In fact, COVID-19 has clearly demonstrated our impact on the planet as well as proven that with a little teamwork, we can achieve great things!”
To host a sale or shop the trail, register for free at garagesaletrail.com.au.