Resource Sharing

Garage sales are a great way to re-home items that you no longer need or use. They are also a great way to raise money for local clubs, community groups and charities. Best of all, they support a sustainable and circular community! This helps to keep items in use, out of landfill and reduces the need for raw materials used to manufacture new 'stuff'.  

So, join in the fun and host a garage sale at home or with your local community group. We'll provide resources to help and will spread the word to help promote your garage sale so that more people discover your pre-loved goodies.

The more people in your area who have a garage sale, the more likely you can attract customers to visit your garage sale. Some options to create a successful garage sale and declutter your home:

Garage Sale Trail - every November 

Australia's well-known Garage Sale Trail occurs over two weekends in November across Australia. It's free for residents to join, with registrations usually opening in September so you can receive tips and tricks and get on their map.  

Do It Yourself - any time of the year!

You can choose to hold your own garage sale at home, or coordinate / get involved with a joint garage sale in your street, with your local school, preschool, community organisation or church.  

How to promote it?

Being part of the national Garage Sale Trail gets you on their map when you register. This gives you access to a large group of customers who are already looking for bargains and garage sales, and being on the map will make it easy for them to find you. 

If you are doing your own garage sale, promoting your event via your local community Facebook pages, community or church groups, putting up signs in your local neighbourhood streets and shops, or on your local community noticeboards, can really help get the message out there. 

Big, clear signage is really helpful for drivers and pedestrians to know that there is a garage sale in their local 'hood. Make sure you show your address, date and time in BIG WRITING so that it's easy for people to scan and see exactly when and where they need to go. Directional arrows can make it easier to find your garage sale for people.

Don't put out signage that will block views of cars and pedestrians when crossing roads or that could affect anyone's safety. If someone asks for you to remove your sign, please remove it. 

And don't forget to remove all your signage once your garage sale is done and dusted! Otherwise, it ends up turning into litter. 

What can I sell?

Anything in good condition! Popular items include clothes, sporting goods, furniture, toys, books, tools, artworks, jewelry, and household goods. Pricing things affordably will help them sell quickly.

You should not sell or give away dangerous goods, chemicals or faulty electrical items. 

Resources to download

Download the following free resources to help you run a successful garage sale. There are also lots of great resources online, including Garage Sale Trail's website via their blogs, FAQ's, tips and tricks resources. 

• Tips and tricks for preparation before the big day and on the day (PDF, 3MB) (A4 handout, 2 pages)
• Tips and tricks for clean up afterwards (PDF, 3MB) (A4 handout, 1 page)

Peels has replaced the long running ShareWaste composting program (which closed December 2024).

Peels connects people across Sydney who wish to recycle their food scraps and other organics with those who are already composting, worm-farming or keeping chickens.

It's a great way to divert organic material from landfill while getting to know the people around you! And, it was started in early 2025 by a local north shore Sydney resident who is passionate about reducing food waste and making compost.

This repair cafe was set up by a group of dedicated and skilled lower north shore residents who want to share their skills in fixing things.

Their motto is "Toss it? No Way!! We want to fix it!"

They are open on the 1st and 2nd Sunday each month, 2-4pm at the Living & Learning Centre, 180 Longueville Road, Lane Cove.

Buy Nothing Lane Cove is for residents living in Lane Cove, Lane Cove West, Lane Cove North (south of Mowbray Rd), Riverview, Longueville, Northwood, Greenwich and St Leonards (Lane Cove LGA side).

This Facebook group promotes a local gifting economy, where members "gift" items to others in their local community. There is no buying or selling, no trades or bartering, and no soliciting for cash.

This Facebook group promotes a community committed to low-waste living, where items that are still useable can be sold or offered for free. This is so they can be rehomed rather than sent to landfill or recycled.

The Bower is a great reuse and rehoming option for items that are still in good condition. They collect good quality timber household furniture, general household items, bikes, electrical appliances and building materials.

The Sydney Library of Things is a not-for-profit service that provides the local community with access to a collection of highly useful but only occasionally used items that can be loaned out for a short period of time. The group is like a normal library but with things instead of books!

By borrowing items instead of buying them, we can reduce our consumption and make the best use of our resources.

They have a number of locations across our part of Sydney, including in Lane Cove (just down from the Post Office in Lane Cove and opposite Harris Farm Markets)

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At The Lane Cove Toy Library, you can borrow from a vast array of well-made toys that have been designed to support your child's skill development and imagination. It aims to support families and encourage togetherness with quality time spent playing with children.

The library is in the same building as The Sydney Library of Things (just down from the Post Office in Lane Cove and opposite Harris Farm Markets).

Take a look at our tutorials below to learn how to use various online websites such as eBay, Gumtree, FreeCycle, Facebook marketplace and more to sell your unwanted items. Tips include how to take a good photo when selling an item as well as how to market and price your items.

Download Learn to Buy and Sell Online - Part 1

Download Learn to Buy and Sell Online - Part 2

Did you know that coffee lovers and foodies can take their reusable containers into local cafes and restaurants with confidence, thanks to a new recognition scheme being rolled out by Council?

The ‘Reusables Accepted Here’ sticker has been provided to local food shops who happily accept reusable containers for takeaway food and drinks, removing any guesswork or hesitation for residents and visitors alike. 

Be sure to keep an eye out for the stickers, and if your favourite café doesn’t have one, encourage them to contact Council to get on board.