Mayor Martin Rush was joined by fellow councillors Christine Phelps and Garry Serhan at Lions Park to christen Muswell-brook’s community garden with fruit trees and to promote the recycling and re-use message.

“Sustainability and sustainable lifestyles are becoming more and more a part of the way we live,” said Mayor Rush.

“[They] can lead to improvements in the cost of living through the better use of our natural resources.”

Stalls showcased energy, water, waste, food and conservation, providing information about the ways people can improve the sustainable use of their homes and neighbourhoods.

Muswellbrook Shire Council workers Fiona Eccles Hall and Natasha Kellett spoke about the process of recycling rubbish at the local landfill.

Muswellbrook Forest Nursery staff, Sheloni Doyle and John Galloway, brought information about native trees and their importance in the garden.

Kai Noonan, from Reverse Garbage, travelled from Sydney’s Marrickville with the “waste not, want not” message.

“We have beautifully-coloured banners from the City of Sydney Council that lined the streets of Sydney last Christmas.

“When Christmas finished Sydney Council had no use for them so they gave them to Reverse Garbage and we have them here today using them to make kids’ costumes and Christmas decorations to take into schools and nursing homes,” Ms Noonan said.

An electric car, worth $37,000, was also on display, with some members of the crowd raising eyebrows after learning the vehicle could travel 170km on less than $6.