A pilot program by Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation repurposed items like lounges, surfboards, dinner sets and more that had been left on the kerb for garbage collection and sold over three days in Wollongong in March.

Read more: New skydiving operator set to move in to the Illawarra

Of the 380 items reclaimed from kerbside collections in Wollongong, 84 percent were sold and eight percent of the remaining smaller items were donated to Green Connect for sale in their op shop. Two percent of items could not be repaired in time or budget, and the remaining items are being listed on online marketplaces.

The sale was born from research which showed nine in 10 people didn't realise their kerbside collection itemrs were getting crushed and sent to the tip, as opposed to being sorted or ending up in a better home.

Read more: The Illawarra chef who will cook a three-course meal in your kitchen

The ISJO team will now collate and report the results of the First pass collection pilot project to share with decision makers and other interested parties.