In brief:

• Sustainable decluttering helps reduce landfill waste and prepares your home for the hotter months ahead.
• Canberrans have access to free and low-cost services that support recycling, repurposing, and safe disposal of household items.
• Climate-ready gardens with native plants and efficient water use can cool your home, support biodiversity, and reduce environmental impact.

With warmer and longer days, spring is the perfect time to do household jobs to refresh your space.

There are plenty of ways to get your home and garden summer-ready in an eco-friendly way.

Declutter sustainably

The ACT Government’s A-Z guide to recycling and waste is a great resource for finding safe disposal and recycling options. Here are some other tips:

• Donate reusable furniture to Goodies Junction or sell it online.
• Utilise a free bulky waste collection (one per financial year).
• Drop unwanted mattresses at Soft Landing in Hume, in your bulky waste collection or drop to a resource management centre in Mitchell or Mugga Lane (fees apply).
• Electronics can be reused or donated, and broken devices can be recycled for free at Mitchell or Mugga Lane Resource Management Centres.

Smart waste disposal

Have you got any hazardous items like old paints, oils, batteries, and cleaning products? These should never go in household bins or drains.

Drop them off for free at Resource Management Centres to avoid environmental and fire risks.

Common recyclables can be dropped off 24/7 at one of five recycling drop-off centres across the ACT.

This includes:

• paper
• cardboard
• glass bottles
• cans.

Return eligible cans, bottles and cartons through the ACT Container Deposit Scheme to earn some money along the way.

Read more about how to recycle properly.

Create a climate-wise garden

Getting out into the garden? Choosing certain plants in the garden can help reduce urban heat, meaning your home will stay cooler during hot weather.

Follow these gardening tips:

Choose the best plants for your space with the Canberra Plant Selector.

• Create shade using plants or structures like pergolas, trellises, or shade sails.
• Understory plants and pots can improve cooling, especially when planted beneath trees or near hot surfaces.
• Combine grass with shrubs and trees for better cooling.
• Even small spaces like balconies can benefit from greenery, shade structures, or trellises.
• Consider installing a rain tank to help irrigate your garden sustainably.
• Install smart watering systems to make sure you’re only watering when its needed.

Reduce your garden’s environmental impact

By rethinking how your garden affects the environment, you will help create cleaner waterways and cooler suburbs.

Here’s how to help:

• Be responsible using fertilisers or chemical additives. These can wash into stormwater drains during rain and contribute to algal blooms in our waterways and lakes.
• When replacing artificial turf, choose natural options like grass, groundcovers or mulch. Artificial turf can’t be recycled or put in household bins.

For more information and tips, visit the climate choices website.

Read more like this:

• Beat the heat this summer with a climate-wise garden
• Five tips for a more sustainable build or renovation
• Easy ways for Canberrans to reduce waste

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