As Spring approaches and we thaw out and feel more energised after the Winter slump, it's a great time to get our houses in order.

Whether you're a Marie Kondo devotee, or just have a few things you need to get sorted, we have some suggestions (and services) that may help.

Declutter your space, give your stuff a second life and allow it to create a new history with someone else.

Hosting a garage sale is a great way to get rid of items you no longer want, but may be useful to someone else - you can make a little pocket money, and save items from landfill in the process!

There are plenty of other options for you to sell on your unwanted items for someone else to cherish. Think reputable online and offline marketplaces like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Cash Converters. Make sure to take precautions when providing account details for payments or meeting people to hand over goods. Other options might include setting up a stall at a 'swap meet' or car boot sale.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of listing your items and vetting buyers, then you can always donate items in reasonable or good condition to several different reputable charities for on-selling.

Make sure the items you're donating are solidly constructed and still have lots of life left in them - if they're not able to be rejuvenated, there are plenty of no-cost and low-cost ways to dispose.

**For future reference - Garage Sale Trail is back on 13-14 and 20-21 November in 2021, and you can choose between a virtual sale or face to face. For the very organised, you can pre-register now and get your things together - it will be here before you know it!

If it can't be sold on and re-loved, then let us help you recycle it or dispose of it conscientiously - and often for free.

In addition to your kerbside services, which include household recycling, green organics, and general waste bins, our Resource Recovery partner NAWMA also provide some special additional services for our community.

This is not just about street appeal (a fresh coat of paint on the front door, fixing that broken letterbox, or keeping your lawn cut.) At this time of year it's also about safety and preparation - are you fire-proofing by keeping your yard clean and tidy? And what to do with all your garden waste?

Our kerbside green FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) bin can be a big help in getting rid of any organic waste from garden or kitchen. If you add your kitchen food scraps to the green bin, you are turning them from waste into a valuable resource to help our gardens thrive - compost!

Our gardening crews are out pruning, clearing, trimming, spraying, and mowing our parks and green spaces, and maintaining public assets. We encourage you to let us know if you see any rubbish where it shouldn't be, or any maintenance required.