Douglas Shire community joins forces to rescue three million kilos of ‘stuff’ from landfill

Bargain hunters and sellers gathered this Saturday at the NicNak Shed, marking the Douglas Shire’s active participation in a nationwide garage sale event dedicated to environmental conservation.

As part of the annual Garage Sale Trail, an Australian wide festival celebrating pre-loved items, the Douglas Shire community left a significant mark over the weekend.

With a car boot sale and op shop sale, their efforts contributed to the nationwide effort to divert over 3 million kilograms of goods from landfill.

Jo Westgate, Manager of the NicNak Shed, initiated the Shire’s involvement in the event. She expressed her hope that this inaugural gathering would inspire a community-wide shift, encouraging the embrace of second-hand shopping.

"Garage sales and Op Shops play a vital role in preventing perfectly functional items from needlessly ending up in landfills," she added. 

“Garage sales are a great way to pick up useful items at bargain prices, particularly given the current cost-of-living pressures."

Terry, known as 'The Garage Sale King' in the community, is a dedicated volunteer at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre and the NicNak Shed. Actively exploring local garage sales every weekend, he promotes sustainable shopping and was delighted to witness the community's active support for the environment.

Expressing concern, he noted, “I believe there is a lack of awareness in the Douglas Shire regarding the volume of goods ending up in landfills”. 

“People just tend to get rid of things by throwing them away and consistently purchasing new stuff,” he continued.

“I hope to inspire more people to opt for second hand purchases over new ones. It not only prevents items from ending up in landfills but also offers significant savings for your wallet.”