Community waste programs

Second Hand Saturday is a North Coast community event involving the FREE online listing of garage sales being held across the region. People can hold their own garage sale at home, or coordinate a joint garage sale in their street, or with their local school, preschool, community organisation or church. You can also get involved by shopping at all the garage sales across the region – and from previous years’ experience there will be hundreds to choose from!

In 2024, Second Hand Saturday was held on Saturday 21 September. To find out more visit the website.

The Reuse and Repair Trial is an online hub for the community, including savvy eco-conscious consumers, to seek out businesses and organisations that provide reuse and repair services. The hub includes a directory and map of Northern Rivers-based businesses and organisations that are actively avoiding waste, encouraging repairs, and/or providing reusable options.

You can list your business or organisation on the trail site FREE of charge, including a description of your service and a link to your own website.

To find out more visit the website.

Every year, Council works with Plastic Free July to share ideas and challenges, and encourage everyone to make a pledge to reduce their reliance on single-use plastic usage and create some new habits. Our impact comes from LOTS of people taking small steps which add up to a BIG impact, rather than just focusing on a few people doing everything. The best thing is, you can actually start at any time of the year!

Visit Plastic Free July, take the Pesky Plastics Quiz if you're not sure what plastics you can change, and then Take the Challenge to refuse single-use plastic in your life. Also, you can check out our 10 tips to reduce single-use plastic waste! 

The 'Lift the Lid' program inspects residents' recycling and organics bins for incorrect items and provides on-the-spot education and incentives to reduce contamination and improve resource recovery.

The next round will be announced through Council's Local Matters publication, local media and Facebook. 

Council and regional waste group North East Waste periodically host composting workshops. Composting food scraps and garden waste creates nutrient-rich soil and prevents methane emissions from rotting food in landfill.

Composting using a worm farm can also provide liquid fertiliser and worm castings for use on plants and soil.

• Composting at home(PDF, 2MB)
• Worm farming at home(PDF, 1MB)