Hobart City Mission says nearly 650K of clothing items saved from trash
A new op shop ‘Treasure Trail’ hopes to encourage a more circular economy in Hobart’s northern suburbs by continuing to keep nearly 650,000 clothing items out of landfill each year.
Tasmania
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The Glenorchy City Council has established a Treasure Trail to promote op shops in the city and reduce waste.
Glenorchy mayor Sue Hickey said the trail promotes nine op shops from Glenorchy to Claremont, which aligns with the council’s commitment to fostering a circular economy and reducing waste.
“We are thrilled to be the first Tasmanian council to promote a Treasure Trail initiative,” she said.
“By embracing the values of reduce, reuse, and repurpose, we aim to offer practical ways to combat the harmful impacts of fast fashion while creating meaningful opportunities for our community.”
Ms Hickey said fast fashion contributed to environmental degradation, with landfills and waterways increasingly overwhelmed by textile waste.
She said the Treasure Trail encouraged Glenorchy residents and visitors to help the environment by giving clothing and other items a second life.
“This initiative is about more than sustainable fashion.
“It supports individuals experiencing disadvantage, encourages community volunteering, and allows shoppers to connect with neighbouring businesses while hunting for unique treasures and amazing bargains.”
Taryn Townsend, Hobart City Mission senior manager retail said the mission had eight shops in the South including the Moonah mega store and they were “absolutely vital to Hobart City Mission’s operations”.
She said the stores were performing well, with steady customer engagement and a consistent flow of donations.
“Over the past 12 months, our stores have sold more than 644,000 items, diverting this from Hobart’s landfill,” Ms Townsend said.
“This not only showcases the popularity of our shops but also highlights their positive environmental impact.
“The funds raised through sales help support our essential community programs, such as emergency relief, housing support, and food assistance.
“Without the support of our op shops, we wouldn’t be able to serve the community in the way we do today.”
In the past year the shops also had helped provide emergency relief to 1100 people.
Ms Townsend said the shops attracted a “diverse range of customers”.
“While many of our shoppers are individuals and families who benefit from the affordability of second-hand goods, we also see a growing number of people from more affluent backgrounds who are shopping with a mind toward sustainability, ethical consumption, and finding unique items.
“With increasing cost-of-living pressures, many people are turning to second-hand shopping to save money while still accessing quality goods.
“There’s a growing awareness of the environmental impact of fast fashion and waste, leading many to shop at op shops to reduce their carbon footprint and participate in the circular economy.
“Ultimately, it’s a combination of economic need, a love for a bargain, and a commitment to sustainability that makes second-hand shopping so appealing.”
Ms Townsend said every purchase helped fund vital programs “to make a significant difference in the lives of those we support”.
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Originally published as Hobart City Mission says nearly 650K of clothing items saved from trash
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