Rethink, Reuse, Repair, Repeat
Everyday Actions to Avoid Waste and Keep Resources in Use for Longer
Avoiding waste is a key part of the circular economy. One of the best ways to do this is to buy less and instead choose to share, repair, reuse, and repurpose. This keeps valuable materials in use for longer and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Why avoid waste?
Waste contributes around 3% of Merri-bek’s greenhouse gas emissions. Choosing reusable, durable and recyclable products helps reduce your environmental impact and supports a circular economy, where materials and products are kept in use for as long as possible.
Avoiding waste also saves energy, materials, time and money. While recycling is important, it still requires resources to collect, process and manufacture new products. The waste hierarchy identifies waste avoidance as the most effective option, followed by reusing, repairing, sharing and recycling. By reducing consumption and extending the life of products, we can conserve valuable resources, reduce pollution and create less waste in the first place.
Before buying something new or throwing an item away, consider repairing, borrowing, swapping or buying second-hand. These options save money, reduce waste and keep valuable resources in use for longer.
Five Top Tips to Avoid Waste at Home
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Buy Only What You Need
Plan meals, shop with a list, buy only what you need and avoid impulse purchases to prevent food and household items from going to waste. Invest in durable, repairable products that last longer.
Think about how you will dispose of an item when you purchase it, ask can it be repaired, recycled or repurposed, or is it destined for landfill at the end of its life? Small everyday choices can save money, conserve resources, and reduce your environmental impact.
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Reuse Before Replacing
Choose reusable products, buy in bulk and refill reusable containers, and find new uses for items before buying something new. Avoid single-use items such as disposable coffee cups, straws, water bottles and plastic bags.
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Repair and Maintain
Repair items instead of replacing them. Fix broken items, mend clothing, and look after household goods to keep them in use for longer.
Local repair services
Brunswick Tool Library & Repair Café (Brunswick East)
Borrow tools for DIY and gardening projects through a low-cost membership. Regular Repair Cafés help residents repair household items with support from skilled volunteers.
Pascoe Vale Repair Café (Pascoe Vale)
Held on the first Sunday of each month. Bring broken household items and receive free repair assistance from volunteers.
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Share, Borrow and Rehome
Buy second-hand, borrow or swap items where possible. Borrow items you use infrequently, join a tool, toy or book library, share with neighbours, and donate or sell things you no longer need.
Local borrowing services
Merri-bek Toy Library (Pascoe Vale and Brunswick West)
Borrow toys, games and party packs through an annual membership, reducing costs and waste.
Bike Shed @ CERES (Brunswick East)
Helps restore and repair bikes, provides second-hand parts, and offers opportunities to learn bike maintenance skills.
Maker Community Inc. (Brunswick)
A community workshop providing access to tools, equipment and training for woodworking, electronics, 3D printing and other DIY projects.
Swap and share
Food Swaps: Exchange homegrown fruit, vegetables, eggs, seeds and seedlings with other local growers.
Online Buy, Swap and Give Away Groups: Local Facebook groups such as Good Karma Networks, Buy Nothing groups and Hard Rubbish Rescue help residents give away, swap, sell or find second-hand items.
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Recycle Right
When an item can no longer be reused or repaired, recycle it correctly to recover valuable materials and keep them out of landfill. Close the loop by purchasing items made from recycled materials.
Help prevent waste
Avoid leaving reusable items on the kerb outside of booked hard waste collections. Instead, donate, sell or give away quality items through local organisations and online groups to keep them out of landfill.
Start a community initiative
Interested in starting a repair café, goods library or swap program? Merri-bek City Council supports community-led waste reduction initiatives and may be able to assist through grants and other programs. Contact zerocarbon@merri-bek.vic.gov.au for more information.
