Garage Sale Trail returns in November

As the Garage Sale Trail returns in November, Central Coast residents are once again being called to “make secondhand second nature”.

The annual reuse movement, founded in Bondi by Darryl Nichols and Andrew Valder in 2010, is now supported by more than 90 councils nationwide, including Central Coast Council and the NSW Environmental Protection Authority.

It has become part of a growing effort to transition from a throwaway culture to one that values circularity, community, and conscious consumption.

Last year, 12,629 locals took part as sellers or shoppers, hosting 220 garage sales and giving new life to more than 98 tonnes of preloved items.

That success placed the region third in NSW and fourth nationally – proof that small, local actions can make a big difference.

Central Coast Council’s Director of Infrastructure Services, Boris Bolgoff, said it was encouraging to see the community embrace sustainability in such a fun way.

“Local sellers collectively made over $138,000 last year, and 42% of items would have gone to landfill if not sold through Garage Sale Trail,” he said.

This year’s event builds on that momentum, introducing more workshops and Kids Garage Sales designed to teach the next generation the joy of reusing and rehoming.

Ambassador Dirtgirl from the children’s television series Dirtgirlworld said kids leading the way was the kind of future she wanted to live in.

Youth participation takes on added weight following the release of Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment, which highlights impacts from intensifying pressures on natural resources.

As the assessment notes, tackling climate disaster includes reducing waste and over-consumption – challenges deeply connected to everyday purchasing and disposal habits.

Globally, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates more than USD $500B in value is lost annually through under-used and unrecycled clothing, driving emissions greater than those from all international flights and maritime shipping combined.

Every reused item helps avoid the embodied energy and materials tied to production, packaging and transport, reducing strain on Earth’s finite resources.

The concept of circularity – decoupling growth from environmental impact – underpins this shift.

By extending the life of existing goods through informal trade and reuse, events like Garage Sale Trail contribute to national sustainability goals, support community education and normalise sustainable behaviour.

Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis says sustainability doesn’t have to be abstract; it can be practical, local, and fun.

“Reuse, rethink, rehome – it’s a recipe for growing joy,” he said.

From sparking intergenerational discussions to embedding new habits, it’s about reshaping how we consume and connect.

Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the initiative continued to grow each year and aligned with the Council’s efforts to reduce waste and promote recycling.

“This community-driven event shows how we can all band together to make a real difference for our region’s environment and maybe discover a secondhand gem along the way,” he said.

The 2025 Garage Sale Trail will run over two weekends in November – Saturday 8 and Sunday 9, then again on November 15 and 16.

Registrations are now open at garagesaletrail.com.au/centralcoast

Ivona Rose