Beyond the Bin
Spring has finally arrived and with it often comes the desire to renew the spaces in our homes. After months of cold, winter hibernation, we often want to throw open the windows to let in the clean, fresh air, and throw out the unwanted items that have been taking up space.
Not so fast on the throwing out part.
Decluttering our homes by letting go of things we no longer need, want or love is a great way to celebrate and usher in a new season. And there are lots of ways to do just that. By now we have all heard about the three-bin method that says to set up three bins, boxes or bags marked donate, recycle, and trash. Using this method helps to identify the next destination for a particular item. And importantly for most folks, it helps ensure that things stay out of the landfill. But many people are surprised to learn that lots of items are eligible for more than a contribution into a roadside collection bin or a drop off to a donation center or thrift store.
When working with clients embarking on a decluttering project whether for home organizing or preparing for a move, sorting their belongings is generally a first step. Of course it’s important to determine what to keep, donate and dispose of. Making decisions is often the hardest part of the process. Should it stay or should it go? Based on what criteria? A useful tool to keep in the decluttering tool box is knowing the potential for what is being let go. Can it be used by someone else? Can it be recycled? Can it be repurposed? The answer is often yes! So, it’s very helpful to refine the sorting process which ensures that unwanted items are handled responsibly beyond the bin. It can be a game changer for making decisions about whether to keep something or not.
Before we continue, let’s set the ground rules for donating. Everything must be in clean and working condition before delivering to a donation outlet.. There is no laundry or sewing service or fix-it-shop in the back waiting to repair your damaged goods. Anything in less than clean and working condition becomes a burden, defeating the purpose of responsible donating.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Have you heard of textile recycling? Clothing, linens, footwear and bedding that is not eligible for donation due to its condition, can be offered to textile recycling. It’s as easy as bagging up these belongings and labeling it for this specific recycling treatment. Bay State Textiles and Helpsy are two organizations that place bins in school parking lots, for instance, making drop off a simple task. Animal shelters often accept towels and blankets which makes for a feel-good donation. A word of caution: mattresses require special handling so check with your community’s recycling program for disposal options.
Clients are often pleasantly surprised to learn that electronic devices of all types as well as cords and cables can be recycled. In this case, it is OK if the gizmo or gadget doesn’t work. Recycling will take care of that. Beyond specific town-, government-sponsored or mail-in programs, local Staples and Best Buy stores also offer consumers a convenient way to dispose of electronics responsibly. Some restrictions and fees may apply.
What to do with pesticides and household cleaning solutions also stymie people eager to rid them. Known as hazardous waste, these types of chemicals and compounds cannot be put in the recycle bin, emptied down a drain or thrown in the trash. They need to be disposed of with care. It’s best to safely store these items until you are able to bring them to a community collection facility or event, or arrange for their pickup by a junk hauler familiar with the disposal process.
Raise your hand if you have a can or two of paint in your basement or garage. These are staples in most homes and kept for those ‘just in case touch up’ moments. If you have a need for that, great, if not, these cans shouldn’t linger in your home. The question of how to get rid of them is a common one. Luckily, there are easy methods of disposal once the paint is dried out. Open cans of paint can dry out on their own after a few days. For a faster result, add kitty litter, sawdust or a paint hardener (available at hardware stores) and allow it to dry completely. Then, simply add the sealed cans to the regular trash. Note, this is applicable to latex paints only.
In addition to paints, many homeowners hold onto building materials from renovation projects again for those just in case situations, only to try and find a way to dispose of them years later. Some nonprofit organizations like Habitat for Humanity accept many of these gently used items for re-sale at their ReStore stores. Other household objects like furniture, accessories, windows and more are accepted for donation as well. All donations must be reviewed through an online submission process.
With so many options to reuse and recycle common household objects, it’s easier than ever to go beyond the bin.