Rethink what you throw out
Did you know the average American throws away about 68 pounds of
used clothing and rags each year? That translates into 20
billion pounds of used clothing and textiles that are tossed into
the landfills each year. Some items, such as clothes and
children's toys, often become unwanted before they wear out.
There are a number of ways to reduce the amount of trash that
you send to the landfill, including donating usable items to
nonprofits or simply reusing or repurposing them yourself.
Here's a list of some of the most common items that can be
reused:
- Carpets and rugs
- Clothing and footwear
- Furniture
- Large and small appliances
- Pallets and wood containers
- Towels, sheets, and pillowcases
A win-win situation
Donating and reusing materials that otherwise would be thrown
away not only keeps waste out of the landfill, but donations are
often tax deductible and help raise money for good causes.
That's a win-win for everyone involved. Here are a few
ways that you can donate and reuse:
- Donate used items (in good, usable condition) to social service organizations, which give these
items to those who cannot afford them.
- Participate in online reuse organizations such as Freecycle.
- Give reusable building materials to stores that specialize in
selling used tiles, lighting, flooring, appliances, hardware, doors
and more
- Exchange, borrow, and reuse informally between family, friends,
and neighbors