Support your local op shop in Buy Nothing New Month

Media Coverage, 5 October 2011

October is Buy Nothing New Month – a time to reassess what we really need, think about where the stuff we buy comes from, where it goes when we’re done with it and what our alternatives are.

It doesn’t mean you have to give up shopping altogether, but instead it’s the perfect time to check out your local op shop. They have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and many sell seconds or clothes that are in mint condition.

Op shopping not only saves you money and helps to reduce landfill, but it also gives you the chance to support some really worthy causes.

Mission Australia operates eight Big Heart op shops in New South Wales, in the Illawarra, south-western Sydney, Nowra and Goulburn. Each store provides high-quality, low-cost clothing and furnishings to the public.

All money raised from the sale of clothing and other items is directed towards Mission Australia's non-funded community programs. Excess clothing is distributed, through Mission Australia services, to homeless, disadvantaged and people in need.

All Big Heart stores are committed to environmental sustainability and responsibly recycle 100 per cent of the clothing and goods donated to us.

Find a store here, or shop online at the Big Heart eBay store.

Learn more about Buy Nothing New Month:

• At the official website, which features this video on reducing landfill.
• ABC’s 7.30 program featured this report about shoppers turning to second-hand goods, both on the internet and in op-shops.