top of page
Search

Eco Read Takes on Book Waste: Ambitious Plan to Divert 1 Ton of Books from Casey Landfills by FY 25/26

  • Writer: Eco Read
    Eco Read
  • Apr 28
  • 2 min read

Updated: May 1

Casey, VIC – In a bold move to combat both waste and literacy inequality, local startup Eco Read has unveiled a 2030 strategy to revolutionise how books are reused, starting with the City of Casey as its pilot region. The initiative aims to divert at least 1 ton of books from landfill by June 2026 alone by targeting an overlooked gap in the secondhand book ecosystem.


The Hidden Book Waste Problem

While many assume donated books find forever homes in op shops, the reality is stark. "Even charities discard perfectly good books due to oversupply, seasonal stock rotations, or minor shelf wear," explains Eco Read’s founder. "Casey’s seven libraries, fifteen op shops, and four bookstores collectively trash hundreds of kilograms of readable books monthly. We’re here to intercept them."

Eco Read’s research shows:

  • Op shops reject 30–50% of donated books (Lifeline Australia data)

  • Libraries cull 100+ items/month in Casey alone to make space


How the Model Works

  1. Rescue: Collect discards from partners (e.g., Casey Libraries’ withdrawn stock)

  2. Redistribute: Sell via online platforms, pop-up markets, or donate to community/literacy programs

  3. Report: Track landfill diversion and literacy impact publicly

"Unlike traditional op shops, we aggregate these ‘lost’ books at scale," says the founder. "One store might toss 20 romance novels, but we collect those from 15 partners and give them a second life."


Phase 1: Casey as the Test Case

The 2025–2026 pilot will:

  • Partner with all 7 Casey libraries for monthly collections

  • Place dedicated bins at 15+ op shops for unsold books

  • Host monthly pop-up shops at local markets

  • Donate stock to schools, youth, community and Indigenous literacy programs

"Casey’s growth makes it ideal—we can prove the model before expanding statewide," notes the team.


Responding to Skeptics

To those who ask "Don’t op shops already handle this?", Eco Read responds:

  • "Charities lack capacity to resell all donations—we’re their backup."

  • "We focus on bulk diversion, not competition."

  • "Our online reach finds niche buyers op shops can’t."


Bigger Picture

By 2030, Eco Read plans to:

  • Transition to a nonprofit model with DGR status

  • Launch certified book recycling programs

  • Advocate for national book diversion schemes

"Every book we save is a double win—for the planet and readers," says the founder. "Casey’s just the first chapter."

 
 
bottom of page