One of the key strategies in simplifying is getting rid of the excess stuff cluttering your life and home.
When you are in the midst of a minimizing campaign, it can be tempting to toss all the junk you no longer want into the trash and let someone else deal with the problem. But sending it to the landfill is not the ideal option for much of the stuff that we no longer want in our homes.
A better solution is to discover the many options to minimize responsibly. Here are suggestions and links for a multitude of alternatives to the landfill.
Electronics
Most electronics contain substances that are toxic to the environment and should never be simply thrown in the trash. Here are suggestions to minimize electronics responsibly
Resell
There are a number of websites that resell used cell phones and other tech, including:
Recycle
If your tech isn’t new enough to sell, these stores will recycle it
Donate
There are also sites that accept donations of old computers, tablets, and other electronics, such as:
Clothing
Resell
- A consignment shop near you
- Craigslist and similar sites
- A local community Facebook page dedicated to the
resale of items - Thredup
calls itself the largest online consignment and thrift store - Kidizen focuses
on children’s clothing - Poshmark focuses
on fashion clothing - Freecycle
is a platform for exchanging goods for free
Recycle
According to their websites, some retail clothing chains accept used clothing donations for recycle purposes. The list includes:
You can also google textile recycling services near you.
Donate
- Thrift stores like Goodwill and ReUzit Shoppe
- Many local charities accept clothing, such as:
Homeless shelters, Pregnancy centers, and Battered women’s shelters. - The Salvation Army
- Amvets
Household goods and furniture
Resell
- A consignment shop near you
- Craigslist and similar sites
- A local community Facebook page dedicated to the
resale of items - Books can be resold many places, including Amazon
and Better World Books - Worthy is
a resale outlet for watches and jewelry - Freecycle is a platform for exchanging
goods for free
Recycle
- Some UPS stores accept used packing peanuts
- Some retailers accept empty product packaging
- For an extensive list of items you can recycle,
refer to this Real
Simple post.
Donate
- Give Back Box
A program that encourages you to reuse the boxes you receive by filling them
with used stuff and sending them off. - Libraries often accept used books, DVDs and
more. - Thrift stores like Goodwill, ReUzit Shoppe, etc.
- Some local charities accept household goods and
furniture
Organizations that will pick up your stuff
If you don’t want the hassle of hauling your stuff to the places that accept it, many organizations will come to your house and pick up your stuff. They will take your stuff and resell, repurpose, or recycle it for you. In addition to the ones listed, you may have local organizations that will pick up used items.
Check with the organizations to see if they pick up in your area and to review the list of items they accept. And be sure to plan ahead, it may take a few weeks to get on their schedule.
And remember, eight things you should never throw in the trash:
- Batteries
- Electronics: cell phones, computers, TVs, smoke
detectors, etc - Prescription drugs
- Household chemicals: cleaners, insecticides, mothballs,
etc - Paint and varnish
- Tires
- Used motor oil
- Fluorescent light bulbs
Your local trash hauler or municipality should have information on where and how to dispose of these things appropriately. Many municipalities have specified collection days for these items.
I hope this list helps you to minimize with a good conscience.
This is honestly VERY helpful, and can be a guide to everyone looking to minimize the number of items at home. It’s awesome that your provided exact solutions.
Thanks. The easier I can make it for someone else, the better.