Garage Sale Trail 2020

When: Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2020 
Cost: Free
Event details: Garage Sale Trail 2020, the recovery edition, is coming to town on Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 November 2020.  Happening online and in communities across Australia, this year’s event is all about helping you make or save some money.

MAKE MONEY
Host a garage sale at home or online, or get your school, community group, unit block or whole street involved. You’ll make money, meet the neighbours and help divert valuable resources from landfill. It’s free to register and we supply the tips, tricks, good vibes and promotional bits to help you sell big and stay safe.

SAVE MONEY
We’re launching BargainSeeker, Australia’s newest economic stimulus package where everyone is eligible! Join the fun in person or online and grab a bargain at one of 16,000+ garage sales being held across the country.

Register your sale or shop the trail at www.garagesaletrail.com.au/ScenicRim 

JOIN A MASTERCLASS
Already decluttered or got enough stuff? Fear not, you can still get involved. As part of Garage Sale Trail, we’ve teamed up with some of Australia’s most stylist sustainability experts to bring you a series of online masterclasses that will have you farewelling fast fashion forever. Learn how to style, mend and shop secondhand, all in under an hour at one of our Trail Tutorials. View events and register here https://www.garagesaletrail.com.au/get-involved/online-masterclasses 

Frequently asked questions

Keep these FAQs in the back pocket so you can easily respond to any resident enquiries. For anything else, refer them straight to contactus@garagesaletrail.com.au

What is Garage Sale Trail? 
Garage Sale Trail is Australia’s biggest weekend of garage sales. It’s happening on Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 November 2020. You don’t need to have a garage, just set up in your front yard or join in online.

Who is it for?
Garage Sale Trail is for everyone! Households, community groups, charities, schools, makers and creators can all hold a sale to earn some extra cash or fundraise.

Why get involved?

• Earn some extra cash or fundraise
• Declutter and reduce waste to landfill
• Get to know your neighbours

How does it work? 
Register at www.garagesaletrail.com.au and get access to handy resources, tips and guides to make your sale safe and successful, all provided for free.

What does it cost? 
The support of Scenic Rim makes the event free for residents. 

Why is council involved?
Garage Sale Trail is one of a number of council initiatives designed to reduce waste to landfill and provide the community with ways to dispose of unwanted items responsibly.

Is it safe to have a garage sale?
Being involved as a part of the Garage Sale Trail means you’ll get tips and support to make your sale contactless and COVID-safe. Find out more at www.garagesaletrail.com.au/about/staying-covid-safe

Further information:
Visit www.garagesaletrail.com.au or www.garagesaletrail.com.au/ScenicRim or contact Garage Sale Trail directly on contactus@garagesaletrail.com.au 
 

Containers for Change

The Queensland Government is introducing a Container Refund Scheme to reduce the volume of litter from beverage container entering our environment by providing an incentive for the collection and return of approved containers for recycling in exchange for a refund payment.

When does it start?

From 1 November 2018 eligible beverage containers can be returned to a container refund point in exchange for a 10 cent refund.

What containers can I exchange?

Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard beverage containers between 150ml and three litres are eligible for a refund when returned to a nominated container refund point.

Eligible drink containers

Crushed cans or plastic bottles eligible for a refund can be returned to a container refund point or donation point, providing that they can be recognised as an eligible container under the scheme. For safety reasons, glass bottles need to be whole and intact.

Preferably, lids should be removed from beverage containers before they are taken to a container refund point.

Non-eligible drink containers

Excluded containers, such as plain milk bottles and glass wine bottles, can still be recycled through existing kerbside collection or drop-off services at transfer stations.

Containers that are not eligible for a refund include:

• Less than 150ml
• Greater than three litres
• Any plain milk containers
• Any glass containers which have contained wine or pure spirits
• Containers of one litre or more which have held flavoured milk, pure fruit or vegetable juice, cask wine or cask water
• Concentrated/undiluted cordial or syrup containers
• Sachets above 250ml which have contained wine
• Registered health tonics

More information can be found by clicking here. 

What are Container Refund Points?

Container refund points operated by businesses or organisations where members of the public can return eligible empty beverage containers in exchange for a refund of 10 cents per container.

Operators of container refund points will be responsible for:

• Collecting, counting and sorting collected containers
• Paying refunds to members of the public
• Sorting and preparing materials for collection by Container Exchange or one of its nominated service providers for further processing and recycling.

Where are Container Refund Points in the Scenic Rim?

Details of locations and operating times are available at www.containersforchange.com.au/where-can-i-return.

What do I need to do to participate?
For mobile drop-off locations:

• Register: you need to visit www.containersforchange.com.au and create your scheme account.  This will allow you to receive payment via an electronic funds transfer (EFT) into your bank account.
• Bag it: bag your containers using a multi-use plastic bag/ paper bags/ boxes.
• Tag it: tag your containers using labels printed at home or printed at your local container refund point, displaying your scheme ID and transaction ID.
• Drop it: drop off your containers at your local container refund point.

You will also be able to donate your containers to a community group or charity using their unique scheme ID.

For over-the-counter depots:
Over-the-counter depots, using manual or electronic scanners, will count your containers immediately and provide refunds in cash or via an electronic funds transfer into your bank account (depending on the quantity of containers you have).
Some over the counter depots will also provide a drop-off service, allowing customers to quickly ‘drop-off’ their bags of containers.
You will also be able to donate your containers to a community group or charity using their unique scheme ID.

Further Information

For scheme information: visit www.containersforchange.com.au or call 13 42 42.

Waste Reduction and Recycling

Council has adopted a long-term Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan to help address the challenges of sustainably managing waste now and into the future. Although Council can implement key strategies, adopt new technology, provide infrastructure solutions and plan for the region’s future, successful implementation of waste reduction and recycling strategies require the ongoing support of the community.

DOWNLOAD STRATEGY

Recycling

Recycling is a great way to help the environment when it comes to waste. But it is just one step in the waste cycle. To minimise the amount of waste we create we need to look at all the steps in the waste cycle. The easiest way to do this is to remember: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET

Using your recycling bin effectively

Use your 240-litre Council recycling bin for:

• Glass bottles and jars
• Steel cans, including aerosol cans
• Plastic bottles and containers
• Newspaper, cardboard, magazines and advertising brochures
• Aluminium cans
• Juice and milk cartons
• Lids from bottles and jars

Do not place in your recycle bin:

• Food scraps
• Garden waste
• China/ceramics/mirrors
• Plate glass/heat resistant glass
• Plastic bags
• Clothing
• Household waste
• Rocks, dirt, stones
• Building materials
• Oil, acid or other chemicals

Do not place your recyclables in plastic bags. Recyclable materials should be placed loosely in your recycle bin.

Home Composting

Studies in Scenic Rim region have shown that up to 30 per cent of the materials presented for weekly waste collection are organic and could be composted at home. Composting at home is easy and will not only help reduce waste but will also produce an excellent soil conditioner/ fertiliser for your plants and gardens.

Kitchen scraps and garden waste can account for up to 50 per cent of domestic rubbish. Residents are encouraged to turn their food and vegetable scraps and grass clippings into organic garden fertiliser.

Compost Bin Rebate Program

Council would like to support residents of the region who reduce their food waste going to landfill, by providing a $30 rebate towards the purchase of a selected compost bin. The rebate is available to residents (limit one per property) who purchase a 220-Litre Compost Bin at participating Mitre 10 retailers located in Beaudesert, Boonah, Tamborine Mountain and Kalbar. The rebate will consist of 50% (maximum $30) off the total price of a selected compost bin valued at $60, or alternatively $30 off any other selected compost bin stocked by the retailer of same or higher value.

To apply for the rebate, please complete the online form below, and a voucher will be emailed to you. Vouchers must be presented and surrendered upon purchase of the compost bin to obtain the discount. Please note that compost bin stocks will vary from store to store, and a waiting period may apply for orders. If you would like further information, please phone Council's Waste section.

If you have issues submitting the form below, please email your responses to mail@scenicrim.qld.gov.au

CONTACT COUNCIL

Reusable Shopping Bags

 

The Queensland Government introduced a ban on the supply of single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags on 1 July 2018.  It is estimated that close to one billion single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags were used in Queensland each year.  While the majority of these bags end up in landfill, around 16 million plastic shopping bags end up in the environment in Queensland each year.1 

Some heavier, thicker shopping bags, fruit and vegetable bags, dog poo bags, and garbage bags are not included in the ban. 

Reusable shopping bags are being promoted as an alternative to the single-use shopping bags once used.  Choosing bags that have a lower life cycle impact, and are likely to be used enough times to offset these costs, should be a consideration when choosing a bag.  The banned single-use shopping bag, was generally made from high density polyethylene (HDPE), and caused a major impact on environmental pollution, particularly marine life.   Green bags, made from polypropylene (PP), are overall better than HDPE bags.2   A green bag has to be used more than 23 times before it becomes a better option than single-use bags.3  Some studies suggest a cotton bag has to be used 131 times to equal the environmental impact of a HDPE bag used just once.

Regardless of your choice, to maximise the benefits of reusable shopping bags, it is important that they are reused as many times as possible, and recycled at their end of life. 

To support our residents in changing to reusable shopping bags, Council is giving away packs of 5 reusable shopping bags to Scenic Rim residents.  The shopping bags are polypropylene (PP) non-woven bags.  These bags, once worn out, can be recycled through redcycle (redcycle.net.au) drop off points.  Residents can collect the bags from Council's Customer Service Centres at Boonah, Tamborine Mountain or Beaudesert within normal operating hours.  Proof of Residency must be shown.

1. Plastic bag ban - for shoppers, Queensland Government, www.qld.gov.au, 29 June 2018
2. Plastic bag ban: Many alternatives have huge environmental footprints, Benedict Brook, news.com.au, 21 June 2018
3. Want to be a green shopper?, Uta Mihm, choice.com.au, 28 November 2016