Most of us have too much stuff. Our dressers bulge with excess shirts, pants, jackets, socks, and other garments we’ll probably never get around to wearing. Closets are full of knick-knacks and holiday gifts that collect only dust.
Most people would rather these items end up with someone who’ll actually use them (rather than in a landfill). Some may not know exactly how to identify things to donate, reuse, or repurpose. Below are some suggestions for giving regular household items a second life.
Why Think Twice Before Tossing Unwanted Items?
A lot of that stuff that we have sitting around ends up continuing to take up space – just on our planet instead of inside our closets.
The U.S. generated 292 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018. That’s 584 billion pounds. Half of that ended up in the trash, while the other half was recycled, composted, or used for fuel.
Although refuse dumpsites are designed to minimize environmental disruption, they still emit close to four million metric tons of methane per year. Methane is destructive to Earth’s atmosphere and a key driver of the planet’s gradual warming.
Many of the items that we throw away aren’t unusable.
6 Things to Reuse or Repurpose Instead of Throwing Them Away
Reducing the MSW you generate is possible by repurposing items you’d normally throw away. With a little creativity and gumption, you can become the greenest household on your block!
1. Gently Worn, Used and New Shoes
A lot of the attention on garment reuse focuses on shirts, towels, and linens. But what about old shoes? Most of us have at least a few pairs collecting dust, whether because they’ve been replaced, don’t fit us, or just don’t match our style anymore.
If you’ve hung on to shoes you no longer want or need, it’s likely they’re not unusable. That means you can give them a second life. If you work with a for-profit social enterprise like Funds2Orgs, you can do that and earn some extra cash for yourself or a cause you care about.
Funds2Orgs offers a way to place gently worn, used and new shoes in the hands of micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries. Just as importantly, they stay out of the trash can, which is environmentally friendly.
2. Glass Jars
Glass is one of the most durable materials used for common, everyday items. You can take advantage of that durability by reusing glass jars for pen containers, flower vases, or measuring cups. The next time you’re at the supermarket, opt for glass jars of pasta sauce instead of plastic or metal containers.
3. Plastic Food Containers
If that critical special ingredient is only available in a plastic container, you have plenty of ways to repurpose that, as well. After using all the butter or lunch meat, reuse the plastic boxes to take leftovers to work or school. They can also hold safety pins, thumbtacks, or other small household items.
4. Old Shirts and Towels
That special t-shirt you got in college might hold sentimental value for you. If it has one hole for every year you’ve owned it, though, it may be time to find another use for it. You can use worn-out shirts and towels for car-washing rags or as quick wipe-offs for a pet after muddy strolls in nature.
5. Plastic Bags
Single-use plastic bags account for a large percentage of the average American’s annual MSW output. One trip to the supermarket can yield weeks’ worth of trash bags for those smaller cans in your bathrooms or garage. Resealable Ziploc bags can easily be washed and reused for crackers, cookies, and other snacks. We don’t recommend doing that for bags that have touched raw meat!
6. Shaving Razors
It’s tempting to simply buy the cheap, one-bladed plastic razors for bodily grooming. But you can cut down on waste by purchasing a slightly more expensive safety razor and sharpening the blade when it gets dull.
5 of the Best Things to Donate
The other side of the reuse/repurpose coin is donating. Lightly used (or even new) things to donate to charity may be lying in your closets, attics, basements, or sheds right this second!
1. Gently Used Clothing
Wondering what to do with old clothes? If they’re in good condition, you could simply donate them to Goodwill or a trusted charity. When your child hits another growth spurt, consider sending their old clothes to another child who needs a warm coat for the winter.
2. Towels
Every household needs a healthy amount of towels, but after a few holiday seasons, you might have too many for your linen closet. Plenty of people have to start over at new houses or apartments with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and towels can go a long way toward making their new place a home.
3. Books and DVDs
Streaming movies and TV shows or reading e-books doesn’t work for everyone. If you’ve re-read a book several times or seen a movie enough to have memorized every line, it might be time to give someone else the joy of consuming the media. A great read nourishes minds and souls.
4. Pots, Pans, and Small Kitchen Appliances
Another important part of having your own place is owning the right equipment to make home-cooked meals. After outgrowing your starter set of pots and pans, think about sending them to a charitable nonprofit instead of throwing them out.
5. School Supplies
Parents know all too well that back-to-school lists often include items that your child never ends up actually using. Seasonal expenses are some of the hardest on families with limited income, and every child deserves a quality education. Plenty of local organizations have back-to-school drives that pair supplies with children in need.
Why a Shoe Drive Fundraiser is a Win-Win-Win
Few fundraising opportunities provide as many advantages as a shoe drive fundraiser from Funds2Orgs.
In exchange for gently worn, used and new shoes, Funds2Orgs will pay your group cash based on the amount you collect. We’ll send you all the necessary supplies and pick up the shoes when you’re done. It’s a great way to raise money for school clubs, sports teams, or religious groups.
You’ll have the added bonus of helping micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries lift up their local economies and secure sustainable careers. Speaking of sustainable, it’s a lot better than tossing your shoes in the trash and waiting decades for them to decompose in a local landfill.
Find a Pathway to Sustainability with Green Solutions for Everyday Items
Household trash can gather rather quickly, but you may well have things to donate. Taking a closer look at each item you throw away might lead to fun, fulfilling ways to reduce your carbon footprint and help individuals in need.
If you’d like more information on holding your own shoe drive fundraiser, visit Funds2Orgs’ Get Started page!
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