How Decluttering Decisions Contribute To Our Planet
When you start decluttering, you may feel disappointment in what has remained unused or wasted. You may be hesitant to get rid of items, afraid items will get tossed in a landfill and contribute to the earth's pollution problem. You may even try to donate broken items instead of throwing them in the trash, believing SOMEONE could fix them up.
But the items that are not in good condition will often get tossed in the trash by the charity. They are looking for pieces that people actually want to buy. Placing broken and otherwise unusable items in the donation bin costs the charity manpower and disposal costs. So how do you declutter while also keeping the minimal amount out of the landfills?
When the item is broken, and you believe someone could fix it. Try posting in a Freecycle or Buy Nothing group. In your post, explain the thing is free because it needs to be fixed up or reused for a different purpose. You may get someone who is interested. Set a time limit, such as 2 weeks, before you commit to disposing of in another matter if no one shows interest.
Can it be recycled? Unfortunately, most plastics can't be recycled despite the recycle symbol being imprinted on them. Check out this link if you want to learn more. However, metal can be recycled by either placing it in a recycle bin or taking it to a metal scrap business. You can take broken and out-of-date electronics to Best Buy or e-scrap business, where they pull out the wiring for recycling. Clothing and textiles can also be recycled. In this case, you CAN take it to Goodwill or Salvation Army; just be sure to separate those pieces from the usable clothing donations.
What CAN be donated? Many things can still be given to a charity! Ensure the item still works, doesn't have any damage or stains, and is clean. If it's in a condition you would pick up for yourself, it is probably of use to the charity. Some items are best given to specialty charities. Baby cribs, for example, are challenging to donate due to the many regulations placed on them. However, certain places that accept furniture or baby supply donations may take them. Call ahead to make sure. For any other odds and ends, google the item name plus donation to see what resources are at your disposal.
Suppose the item you are decluttering cannot be recycled or donated. As a professional declutterer, I give you permission to throw it in the trash. We live in a society that makes it difficult to not contribute to the earth's trash problem. I applaud your efforts to do the right thing. Just like in organizing, though, we are focused on progress over perfection.
Once you have decluttered and found some more peace in your space, you will undoubtedly be hesitant to bring more stuff in. I'd argue that to avoid feeling "wasteful" in the future, the onus is what new items we acquire. Being thoughtful with what you purchase as new will help determine what gets tossed in the trash at a future point.