National Recycling Week: 5 Ways Families Can Reduce Waste

Australians generated 99 million tonnes of waste in 2024–25, that’s around 2.9 tonnes for every person in the country.*

The good news? Small changes at home can make a difference, and National Recycling Week is a great time to get the whole family involved.

Running from 9–15 November 2026, Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week encourages Australians to reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle. And while recycling might seem like an environmental lesson, it can also open the door to valuable conversations about money.

From choosing to reuse something instead of buying new, to earning a few dollars from eligible bottles and cans, everyday decisions about waste can help kids understand the value of what they own, and the money used to buy it.

At Kit, we’re all about helping families turn everyday moments into opportunities to build money skills. Here are five simple ways to get started.

1. Start with reducing, not just recycling

One of the easiest ways to create less waste is to consume less in the first place. Before buying something new, encourage kids to stop and think.

Try asking:

• Do I really need this?
• Could I use something I already own?
• How often will I use it?
• What else could I do with the money?

For younger kids, this can be as simple as talking about wants versus needs. Older kids can think about value, quality and how long something will last.

💬 Kit’s conversation starter: ‘If you didn’t buy this today, what else could you do with that money?’

2. Give old things a second life

Before something goes in the bin, see if your family can reuse, repair, donate or sell it.

Get the kids involved by asking them to:

• Find toys, books or clothes they’ve outgrown.
• Decide what could be donated or passed on.
• Repair something instead of replacing it.
• With your help, sell an unwanted item and decide what to do with the money.

💰 Kit’s money tip: If you sell something, compare its original price with its second-hand value. It’s an easy way to start a conversation about how the value of things can change.

Eligible bottles and cans can earn a refund through container deposit schemes around Australia, making recycling a simple, hands-on money lesson.

Make it a family challenge:

• Set up a collection spot at home.
• Count your eligible containers together.
• Estimate how much they might be worth.
• Return them and check how close your estimate was.
• Decide whether to spend, save or put the money towards a goal.

Kit families can use Stacks to set and track savings goals, so kids can watch those small amounts add up.

💬 Kit’s conversation starter: ‘How many containers do you think we’d need to collect to reach your savings goal?’

Pick a day or weekend where the goal is simple: before buying something, use what you already have.

You could:

• Make dinner using ingredients already in the fridge or pantry.
• Create an activity using craft supplies at home.
• Restyle clothes rather than buying something new.
• Borrow, swap or reuse something instead of replacing it.

For older kids, estimate how much you avoided spending and talk about what you could do with that money instead.

💡 Keep the conversation going: Kit’s free Smart Money Playbook has more activities and ideas to help parents turn everyday moments into money lessons.

Give kids an age-appropriate role in your family’s recycling routine.

For example:

• Younger kids: help sort recycling or collect eligible containers.
• Older kids: research local recycling rules, manage your container collection or help plan a low-waste lunch.
• Whole family: choose one waste-reducing habit to practise each week.

If your family chooses to make certain extra tasks paid jobs, Kit’s Earn and PayDay features can help connect completed jobs with pocket money.

It’s another opportunity to talk about the relationship between effort, earning and what kids choose to do with their money.

Small habits can teach big lessons

National Recycling Week is a reminder that what we buy, use and throw away are connected.

You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Pick one idea to try this week: collect eligible containers, buy less, reuse more or simply start a conversation about where your things (and money) go.

Looking for more ways to get your kids talking and learning about money? Explore Kit’s free resources, including the Smart Money Playbook, and follow Kit on Instagram for practical tips and conversation starters for families.

* Australian Government — National waste and resource recovery reporting