Re-Focus, Re-Use, Re-Purpose

As we head into 2026, it's time to Re-Focus on reducing household waste.

Have you set any New Years reduce / reuse / recycle resolutions?

Here’s some ideas for inspiration:

• Try a ‘buy nothing new month’ (for clothes, toys, homewares and more)
• Commit to remember your reusables (like shopping bags, drink bottles and coffee cups).
• Take the Pledge to reduce waste to landfill

Take the Pledge is back for 2026 with even bigger prizes on offer!

Join over 2000 other City of Unley households and Take the Pledge to reduce waste to landfill.

1. Register your pledge
2. Receive and display your new bin stickers = a chance at a $25 voucher.
3. Recycle right = a chance at a $250 gift card.

"I RECYCLE EVERYTHING I CAN & PUT ALL FOOD SCRAPS IN THE ORGANICS BIN"

Monthly Prizes: Register for the Take the Pledge program and you could WIN a $25 Mitre 10 (Barrow & Bench, Malvern) prize voucher, just for putting the program stickers on your bin! 

Quarterly Prizes: We’ll be conducting random kerbside bin checks throughout the year and, if you’re recycling correctly, you’ll go into the draw to WIN a $250 VISA gift card that quarter.

Register here

Having a clean out? Donate excess items responsibly.

• Extend the life of things you no longer need by donating them to one of the many local Op Shops.
• But remember, only donate items in good, clean condition.
• Ask first "would I give this to a friend or buy this myself?". 
• Dispose of poor quality items in your landfill bin or consider sending unusable textiles to Upparel for recycling.

To really have a positive environmental impact, seek out pre-loved options when you next need to go shopping for clothing, furniture and household items. 

Reflect, ready for next year. 

Now that Christmas is over, it’s a great time to talk with family about things you would like to do differently next time. Here’s a few ideas to help avoid stress, clutter and mountains of stuff:

• Keep it simple, choose quality over quantity.
• Simplify the number of gifts by switching to a Kris Kringle method (one good gift per person).
• Choose low impact gifts such as experiences (dinner out, a trip to the movies or a fun family activity) or upcycled, recycled, edible or handmade items.