Live sustainably and find a bargain

Published on 29 October 2025

Caring for the environment is one of the many crucial roles Council plays.

While Council can lead the way through various sustainability initiatives and efforts, it’s up to everyone in our community to take small steps that can make a big difference.

On top of ongoing initiatives, there are a couple of specific events I’d recommend residents get involved with over the next month.

Across two weekends next month, the Garage Sale Trail comes to Hobsons Bay. There will be garage sales right across our city on 8, 9, 15 and 16 November to explore.

Known as Australia’s biggest second-hand treasure hunt, the Garage Sale Trail is a chance to give another life to pre-loved items.

Encouraging re-use of items is an important way to keep things out of landfill, and even make some bonus money.

Last year alone, the trail kept 418 tonnes of assorted items in use and out of landfill.

There are more than 40 locations across Hobsons Bay, so jump online at hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/GarageSaleTrail to see where you can find yourself a sustainable bargain.

Also coming up are a couple of days to drop off hard-to-dispose-of household waste.

On 8 November you can bring any electronic waste and soft plastics to Council’s operations centre in Altona.

Items like TVs, phones, computers and other electronic items can’t go in your rubbish bin at home as they can explode, catch fire and leach out substances that pollute the environment.

Instead, drop them off for free to clear space at home, while also ensuring their parts are recycled and put to good use.

On the same day you’ll also be able to bring in soft plastics. We know our community has been wanting a way to dispose of these rather than just putting in the general rubbish, so bring your plastic bags, chip packets, cling wrap and more (just make sure they’re clean before bringing them). They will go off to a new soft plastics processing facility, to be recycled into new soft plastic.

Sustainable living is up to all of us, so get along to any of these events if you can to make a difference.

Cr Columns are published in the Star Weekly newspaper every fortnight.