We can all relish a day spent perusing Sydney’s glorious shopfronts, whether they house vintage threads or unusual gifts. But overindulgence in any form, even retail therapy, can leave a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach these days.
You can remedy this by ensuring your purchases live their lives to the fullest, and then dispose of them responsibly once they’ve finally carked it. There are many ways to achieve this in Sydney, whether you’re looking to repair, repurpose, resell or recycle your belongings.
Here’s how to recycle your stuff the right way in Sydney.
Repairs: Get Your Gadgets, Jewellery, Ceramics And Shoes Repaired Locally
We live in a fast-paced society with a consumption attitude to match. But there are still plenty of experts ready to repair all manner of broken or worn-out wares in Sydney so you can make the most of what you already own. In every other mall, you can find phone repairers, specialists to resole your favourite shoes, or pros who can add a new clasp to a broken necklace.
If you want to get to know your friendly neighbourhood repairman a little better, book a slot at the in North Sydney or in Marrickville. These grassroots ventures are run by passionate environmentalists and volunteers focused on fixing more stuff—from toasters to tables—to keep it out of landfill. The repairers at these groups will share their skills with you while they mend your kit, so you can have a crack at the next repair job yourself.
Upcycling: Learn To Sew And Upcycle In Workshops
There’s something extra satisfying about repairing stuff yourself, whether it’s a long-treasured item or a new secondhand find you're looking to revive. Craftspeople around Sydney are keen to share their fixing and refreshing skills with novices.
Every avid mender should master sewing. You can start with the basics in needle-and-thread handling (plus crocheting, embroidery, and more) in group workshops at in Chippendale and the Bronte Sewing Room, or focus on a specific project in a private sewing class at in Redfern. Specialists at the will tutor you in everything from restoring furniture to crafting wooden beehives, and even building a tiny house in regular workshops held at their Parramatta and Redfern centres. These courses fill up quickly, so book a spot at the upcycling table ASAP.
If you’re keen to tinker with technology from home, online spare parts retailer has a seemingly endless list of free repair manuals for fixing all kinds of gadgetry. Many of these are created by users in a democratic information-sharing system, which means new tips can be added to the platform and any errors pointed out quickly.
Donating: Donate Items That Are Still In Good Nick
There are plenty of charitable and thrifty organisations operating across Sydney that would be happy to take household items with life left in them that you’re looking to offload. Big organisations like Vinnies, the Salvos, the Red Cross, and Lifeline operate stellar op shops that accept everything from clothes to crockery. You can also contact local charities offering crisis support services like , , and to see if they’re currently accepting donations. Just remember to never dump broken or stained items with these groups, as the burden is then passed onto them to deal with the rubbish, which can be costly.
Reuse and repair centres like are often hunting for treasures they can upcycle and add to their sale collections or use in workshops. Get in touch and see if what you’re hoarding fits their requirements.
Tech: Recycle Your Tech And Buy Refurbished Devices
Don’t let your ancient or busted-up devices languish in the "everything drawer". Anyone in Australia can send mobile phones (and their accessories) to for free, where they’ll be broken down into raw materials to manufacture new products. There are convenient drop-off points at Officeworks, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone stores around the country, too.
Sydneysiders can take larger gadgets like TVs, computers and electric heaters for free to like those in Leichhardt and St Peters. You can also book or drop-offs at regular recycling events within different local council areas (be sure to check what’s available in your council area).
If you want to minimise your environmental impact while shopping for new tech, consider refurbished devices. Refurb companies purchase pre-loved items from consumers or source excess factory stock to repair and sell them on at considerable discounts (depending on their condition). There are more refurb companies popping up, so start by checking out Sydney-based refurb centre for everything from secondhand phones to smartwatches and laptops, or international outfit for dedicated refurbished phones. These and other companies also buy your old devices to refurbish or remanufacture into other products, so compare prices and see where you could make a buck on a trade-in.
Now, read all about how you can volunteer in Sydney.
Image credit: