Embracing a Circular Economy with repair and reuse

The City of Canning is strengthening its commitment to sustainability through a range of initiatives aimed at supporting a circular economy and reducing waste, including the on-demand donation collection service, the Canning Repair Lab and Eco Rebates.

In November 2024, the City of Canning partnered with Good Sammy Enterprises, a much-loved local charity located right here in the City of Canning, to offer residents an on-demand donation collection service for a trial period of 12 months.

Since its introduction, over three tonnes of donations have been collected from 73 households across Canning, with 95% of items deemed suitable for resale in Good Sammy stores.

According to Charitable Recycling Australia (2025), these donations are expected to prevent approximately 48 tonnes of carbon emissions by replacing the need for new items. This is the equivalent of an average petrol-powered passenger vehicle driving 188,035 km, which is around 13 laps of Australia.

Reusing clothing, household items and other products avoids the pollution created by the extraction of raw materials, production, transport and eventual disposal of a new garment or item.

Additionally, since its inception, the Canning Repair Lab has helped the community repair around 350 items. This is thanks to the 15 volunteers who have given their time over the past two years, to help make the Repair Lab a success.

Also supporting the community to repair instead of replacing, is the Eco Rebates program which offers financial incentives for repairs. Canning is the first Local Government in Australia to offer rebates on repair services.

Since the rebates began in November 2024, 23 repair rebate claims have been approved, supporting the repair of 31 household items, including sewing machines, clothing, laptops, shoes, bikes and coffee machines.

City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall said the initiatives reflect the City’s broader commitment to sustainability and the community.

“These services are helping our community reduce waste and extend the life of quality items.

“In addition to this, the on-demand donation service also creates employment opportunities for people with disability, driving the trucks and handling the items.

“By supporting repair and reuse, we’re not only keeping quality items out of landfill, but we’re also helping residents save money and reduce their carbon footprint,” Mayor Hall said.

Together, these initiatives are empowering residents to make sustainable choices while contributing to a more resilient and environmentally conscious community.