Sustainably getting rid of stuff: decluttering and cleaning without waste

Written by Anna Baker | Photos from Pexels

Getting rid of stuff is great. Going into our closets and drawers and purging some things that we don’t need anymore can clear up clutter, stress, and make us feel better. There are often clothes we haven’t worn in years, and things we forgot we even had. It may seem easy to just drop by a Goodwill and donate them but that might not be the best idea in terms of sustainability.

According to Savers 2018 State of Reuse Report, only 7% of people “think they should be buying pre-owned clothing and household goods.” However, 28% of people think they should donate clothes. With more people donating and less buying, thrift shops end up throwing away a lot of the stuff that’s donated. This means a lot of clothes end up in landfills, creating more plastic waste on our planet.

However, there are better ways to get rid of your unwanted clutter.

Sell it on Poshmark or Facebook Marketplace

In the past few years Poshmark has become a very popular app for buying and selling clothes. Because people are directly buying the clothes sold on the app, it’s more likely that they want the clothes, and therefore will keep the clothes. They’re less likely to end up in a landfill. There’s also Facebook marketplace which functions similarly, and is for all things, not just clothes. From wall decor to dining room tables, you can sell anything on Facebook marketplace. Selling your clothes online is a great way to get rid of them and you can earn money too, which is always nice.

Give it to friends/family

If you don’t care about making a buck, you can always just directly give your things to people. Think of families who have kids your size. You can also invite your friends over to peruse the things you’re giving away and see if they want anything. If you’re purging your room for the first time, you’ll likely find a lot of stuff from your childhood you don’t need anymore and that can always be given to families with children. During holidays, bring a box of old stuff for your little cousins to look through. Most likely, they’ll find something they like. By giving your belongings away directly, you can guarantee that they will go to someone who will use them.

Host a garage sale

If you still want to make money by getting rid of your belongings, but don’t want to do it online, host a garage sale! This of course isn’t for everyone, as it really only works for people who live in the suburbs. If you can manage it, however, it can be a great way to get rid of stuff. Many people go to garage sales to get furniture, so if you want to get rid of your unused items, a garage sale is a good idea.

Donate clothes to certain retailers

Some clothing companies like The North Face and H&M have been taking donated clothes from people and giving them discounts in return. The North Face’s donations go to a non-profit called Soles4Souls, which distributes clothes to people in need instead of landfills. H&M takes donated clothes and donates them to local recycling plants. All you need to do is take a bag of your unwanted clothes to either store, and you can get a discount in return! It’s a bonus.

There are lots of ways to get rid of your belongings that don’t involve thrift stores. It can be good to explore some of these options first, and if all else fails, you can always drop off some bags at a local Goodwill.

It can feel amazing to get rid of stuff you don’t need anymore, but it can feel even more amazing if you do it responsibly.