Being environmentally friendly has never been more important, and it is easier than you think to get the whole family on board the planet-saving train. Here’s our top ways to get involved and become a family full of eco-warriors in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter region.
Shop at a farmers market
Teach your kids where fruit and veggies come from and go to farmers markets. There’s a few to choose from in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland area. Selling not just produce, at some of the markets you can purchase meat, seafood and cheese, browse handcrafted goods or enjoy some breakfast. Here’s some local markets to visit to buy delicious, in-season fruits and vegetables to reduce your food miles and waste.
Walk or scoot more
Walk, ride or scoot to preschool, daycare or school and take the time to appreciate nature and your local neighbourhood whilst cutting back on fossil fuels that a car trip produces.
Jump on public transit
Hit up Newcastle and the Hunter’s public transport circuit! Kids love nothing more than a trip on a train, bus or tram and you can leave the car behind! We’ve put together a list of ideas in and around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter as well as in Central Coast and Sydney to take advantage of public transport. Some of the trips are short, just a fun trip on a train, bus or ferry while others are longer.
Grow your own herbs and vegetables
Plant a veggie garden! There’s no better way to teach children about where their food comes from and get them excited about eating fresh produce than by teaching them to grow it themselves! Plus, it’s a great way to save money on your grocery bill. You don’t need a massive garden either. Some gardeners have had success in 1-metre plots or even balcony gardens. Here are some of the best veggies to grow. If you have extra produce, trade with friends or neighbours for their crops.
Register for Solar Neighbourhoods
With more pressure than ever on the family budget, and power bills on the rise, more and more people are looking to take control of their energy usage and reduce their environmental impact. City of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie City Council and Maitland City Council joined forces to make solar and batteries simple, affordable and stress-free with Solar Neighbourhoods, a new council-backed community program. The councils have done the hard work for you: carefully selecting brands and products, negotiating exclusive savings, and creating clear package options so you can focus on what matters – making your home more comfortable and your power bills smaller. To find out more, visit the Solar Neighbourhoods website.
Borrow from Newcastle Toy Library
Cut down on landfill and have access to a wide range of toys for all ages by joining your local toy library! A volunteer run organisation, Newcastle Toy Library allows children to borrow puzzles, Lego, ride-on toys, educational sets, baby toys, dress ups, musical instruments and more, for a small annual membership fee. Instead of buying cheaper, age-limited toys, the toy library encourages families to try more classic, longer lasting toys and games before you buy them, then return them and try something else! The Toy Library is open Saturday mornings, between 9:30am and 11.45am at New Lambton Library.
Borrow from Maitland Toy Library
Based at East Maitland Library, Maitland Toy Library is focused on play-based learning for children aged 0-8 years. They have a range of toys available to borrow including dress ups, water play, puzzles and counters, wheeled toys, Indigenous cultural toys, sensory toys and more. You can borrow up to 3 toys for 3 weeks on each library card. Library membership is completely free, making it an ideal way to save money and reduce waste. The Toy Library is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 2pm.
Visit a local street library & borrow books
“Take a book, Give a book, Share a book” is the motto of the Street Library movement. It’s basically a micro library that you install in your front yard that’s accessible to the street. People can walk by and take or donate a book to the Street Library as they wish, without checking them in or out. It’s a creative way to get to know your neighbours, swap books and reduce landfill. Keep your eyes out for a Street Library in your neighbourhood.
Borrow items from The Share Shop
Pretty much the Toy Library for adults, The Share Shop located at Pachamama House in Hamilton is a library of ‘things,’ allowing members to borrow stuff instead of having to buy it. How many times do you really use your tent? Or need a garden hedger? Joining a Share Shop is a great way to cut down on clutter at home, while reducing your household’s contribution to landfill when tools break or aren’t used. Run by volunteers, Share Shop encourages community interaction and living sustainably and you can also donate any of your unused tools or shed items in good condition!
Join a Sustainable Neighbourhood group
If you live in Lake Macquarie council area, join a Sustainable Neighbourhood group. These
Learn how to upcycle your clothes with Upcycle Newcastle
What you first thought was trash, could easy turn into treasure, with the right ideas and perhaps a little guidance along the way! Upcycle Newcastle in Hamilton North are passionate about the circular economy and saving textile waste from landfill through creative re-use and repair. They run workshops and events and also sell their products.
Visit Full Circle Collective
Visit the Full Circle Collective website for information on environmental and sustainability happenings in the area, visit their blog to get more hints and tips on how to live more sustainably, or visit their shop at 437 Hunter Street, Newcastle. In their inspiring shop, you’ll discover a wide range of local, ethical, and sustainable products, including clothing, accessories, furniture, gardening supplies, paints, and more!
Get help repairing items at Repair Café
Presented by Newcastle Libraries and City of Newcastle Waste Services as part of the Low Waste Living program, Repair Café aims to bring together skilled repairers and people who want to learn how to fix their things. You can get help with small furniture, clothing and textile repairs, and even learn to sharpen your own tools, knives and scissors. Held on the first Saturday of every second month at library and community locations across Newcastle, bring along items you’d like repaired.
Recycle your clothing
Having a big clean out at your place but not sure what to do with the family’s old clothes? Old clothes make up a huge portion of landfill each year, with materials like polyester taking up to 200 years to break down. Some of our local fashion retailers like H&M and Country Road accept clothing donations in store, which they donate to those in need and to make some pretty amazing new products like house insulation, car products and rags for the painting industry.
Pick up Five
When you visit our beautiful beaches, lakes, National Parks and reserves, don’t leave empty-handed. Get the kids to pick up five pieces of rubbish each and take them home to recycle or put in the bin – every little bit counts!
Recycle your bottles at Return and Earn
Collecting used bottles and empty poppas and getting rewarded for recycling them is a fun and easy way to get the family interested in recycling! Sorting your bottles is a great activity to do with the kids and taking them along to your local Return and Earn, where they can help post them into the collection machine chute, saves this rubbish from landfill and rewards your young recyclers for their efforts. You can even donate the money you earn directly to charity and this teaches kids about doing their bit for their planet and others.
Recycle toys at Big W Toys for Joy
Toys for Joy, Australia’s first toy recycling program, reduces landfill by collecting pre-loved toys at BIG W stores. Simply drop off your eligible toys in designated recycling bins (found at the front of all Big W stores). Donations are sorted; usable toys go to the Salvation Army for resale, while recyclable ones are processed into raw materials for new products like carpets or building aggregates. Please note that not all toys are accepted, including books, board games, wooden toys, art supplies, oversized toys (like bikes), and sports equipment.
Transition Streets
Respond to the environmental challenges we are facing and create a vision for a better future through the power of connection and communication. Join with others in your community to make your home and your street more sustainable. Transition Australia has created a workbook to guide you through the process, from setting up your group and hosting your first meeting.
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