Comments on: Trash goes in the trash http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:00:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: bldb http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3439 bldb Mon, 24 Sep 2007 01:28:42 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3439 Figuring out what to do with stuff I don't want is exactly the problem I have with clutter. Self-permission to throw out good things is not easy for a recovering packrat like me! Figuring out what to do with stuff I don’t want is exactly the problem I have with clutter. Self-permission to throw out good things is not easy for a recovering packrat like me!

]]> By: Vomitola http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3438 Vomitola Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:30:23 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3438 If stuff is truly trashed, it may indeed be trash, yes. However, our local thrift store takes ruined clothing to be made into rags and insulation. You just bundle it and mark it as unwearable cloth rather than mixing it with a wearable donation. Our local animal shelter takes used blankets and towels. As long as they've been washed, they don't care about bleach stains or hair dye streaks or whatever. Check out Blueprint Magazine's list of 100 ideas for getting rid of things, a lot of them involving appropriate charitable donation or recycling. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ytz2yb" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/ytz2yb</a> If stuff is truly trashed, it may indeed be trash, yes. However, our local thrift store takes ruined clothing to be made into rags and insulation. You just bundle it and mark it as unwearable cloth rather than mixing it with a wearable donation. Our local animal shelter takes used blankets and towels. As long as they’ve been washed, they don’t care about bleach stains or hair dye streaks or whatever.

Check out Blueprint Magazine’s list of 100 ideas for getting rid of things, a lot of them involving appropriate charitable donation or recycling. http://tinyurl.com/ytz2yb

]]> By: JAS http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3437 JAS Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:13:32 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3437 Also, realize that libraries don't want your moldy oldy books. If the books are moldy, infested, incomplete sets or are textbooks or computer books more than 5 years old most libraries will throw them away. It is not a sin to throw a book away! Libraries spend thousands of dollars on garbage pickups that could be better spent on materials the public really wants. You can recycle paperbacks but the hardbacks have to go in the trash. I promise you, it is ok to do this! Also, realize that libraries don’t want your moldy oldy books. If the books are moldy, infested, incomplete sets or are textbooks or computer books more than 5 years old most libraries will throw them away. It is not a sin to throw a book away! Libraries spend thousands of dollars on garbage pickups that could be better spent on materials the public really wants. You can recycle paperbacks but the hardbacks have to go in the trash. I promise you, it is ok to do this!

]]> By: jethro http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3436 jethro Fri, 21 Sep 2007 02:57:57 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3436 This post, from Co-op America via The Good Human, gives information on a lot of great opportunities for recycling things you didn't know could be recycled. The big foam chunks that your stereo/computer/appliance was packed in? Who knew? <a href="http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2007/09/11/thigns-you-might-not-know-you-can-recycle-and-where-to-recycle-them/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2007/09/11/thigns-you-might-not-know-you-can-recycle-and-where-to-recycle-them/</a> This post, from Co-op America via The Good Human, gives information on a lot of great opportunities for recycling things you didn’t know could be recycled. The big foam chunks that your stereo/computer/appliance was packed in? Who knew?

http://www.thegoodhuman.com/20.....ycle-them/

]]> By: Jasi http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3435 Jasi Fri, 21 Sep 2007 02:56:50 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3435 Burying trash as a permanent solution sounds ridiculous. It sets off all sorts of common sense alarms. Recycling isn't as efficient as it could be and yes, it's a cost. But if we're looking at whats taking funds from "genuine" environmental issues, I'm sure we could find other places to look for cash. Why not start in politician's pockets, campaigning and inefficient govt. spending. Burying trash as a permanent solution sounds ridiculous. It sets off all sorts of common sense alarms.

Recycling isn’t as efficient as it could be and yes, it’s a cost. But if we’re looking at whats taking funds from “genuine” environmental issues, I’m sure we could find other places to look for cash. Why not start in politician’s pockets, campaigning and inefficient govt. spending.

]]> By: larochelle http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3434 larochelle Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:14:37 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3434 If you live in the Bay Area, the next SwapSF event is this weekend, Saturday Sept. 22nd - its a giant clothing swap! Of course, I make sure I don't leave with more than I brought. <a href="http://www.swapsf.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.swapsf.com/</a> If you live in the Bay Area, the next SwapSF event is this weekend, Saturday Sept. 22nd – its a giant clothing swap! Of course, I make sure I don’t leave with more than I brought.

http://www.swapsf.com/

]]> By: jchumanerecipe http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3433 jchumanerecipe Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:36:49 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3433 I am wondering where all of this extra barren land devoid of wildlife or communities, ready for landfill use actually is. From what I have seen/heard usually we are fighting for other states to take our garbage and they don't want it. Overall the object is to reduce rather than to depend on recycling forever. I am wondering where all of this extra barren land devoid of wildlife or communities, ready for landfill use actually is. From what I have seen/heard usually we are fighting for other states to take our garbage and they don’t want it.

Overall the object is to reduce rather than to depend on recycling forever.

]]> By: oneighturbo http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3432 oneighturbo Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:52:53 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3432 in the winter months ive given clothes, sheets+blankets and the like to homeless. if its say a chair, old vacuum etc. if you can put it out front of your house (if you own) someone will always come and grab it esp. if theres a "free" sign on it. Nike Reuse-A-Shoe <a href="http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=26&cat=reuseashoe&subcat=us" rel="nofollow">http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=26&cat=reuseashoe&subcat=us</a> IKEA's now have a large bin for all kinds of recycling, batteries to phones. We bring our plastic grocery bags bag to the grocer where they have bins for them. in the winter months ive given clothes, sheets+blankets and the like to homeless.

if its say a chair, old vacuum etc. if you can put it out front of your house (if you own) someone will always come and grab it esp. if theres a “free” sign on it.

Nike Reuse-A-Shoe
http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/ni.....;subcat=us

IKEA’s now have a large bin for all kinds of recycling, batteries to phones.

We bring our plastic grocery bags bag to the grocer where they have bins for them.

]]> By: Publius http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3431 Publius Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:10:41 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3431 To all advocating recycling, I suggest you read John Tierney's wonderful article in the New York Times Magazine on recycling a few years back. It's available at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/233u9f" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/233u9f</a> "Believing that there was no more room in landfills, Americans concluded that recycling was their only option. Their intentions were good and their conclusions seemed plausible. Recycling does sometimes makes sense -- for some materials in some places at some times. But the simplest and cheapest option is usually to bury garbage in an environmentally safe landfill. And since there's no shortage of landfill space (the crisis of 1987 was a false alarm), there's no reason to make recycling a legal or moral imperative. Mandatory recycling programs aren't good for posterity. They offer mainly short-term benefits to a few groups -- politicians, public relations consultants, environmental organizations, waste-handling corporations -- while diverting money from genuine social and environmental problems. Recycling may be the most wasteful activity in modern America: a waste of time and money, a waste of human and natural resources." To all advocating recycling, I suggest you read John Tierney’s wonderful article in the New York Times Magazine on recycling a few years back. It’s available at

http://tinyurl.com/233u9f

“Believing that there was no more room in landfills, Americans concluded that recycling was their only option. Their intentions were good and their conclusions seemed plausible. Recycling does sometimes makes sense — for some materials in some places at some times. But the simplest and cheapest option is usually to bury garbage in an environmentally safe landfill. And since there’s no shortage of landfill space (the crisis of 1987 was a false alarm), there’s no reason to make recycling a legal or moral imperative. Mandatory recycling programs aren’t good for posterity. They offer mainly short-term benefits to a few groups — politicians, public relations consultants, environmental organizations, waste-handling corporations — while diverting money from genuine social and environmental problems. Recycling may be the most wasteful activity in modern America: a waste of time and money, a waste of human and natural resources.”

]]> By: Wesa http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3430 Wesa Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:54:39 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3430 If you are ready to throw something away, make sure you see if any part of an item is recyclable. When items end up in the landfill, they do not break down much, if at all. If you are ready to throw something away, make sure you see if any part of an item is recyclable. When items end up in the landfill, they do not break down much, if at all.

]]> By: Michele http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3429 Michele Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:57:09 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3429 I agree about having the clothes go to recycling to make rags. That is best for the environment. Unfortunately when I called Goodwill to ask about this, they did say that it's too much work for them to do this. But then I asked at another, for profit, thrift store (in Seattle) and they said they will take these very old and stained clothes and recycle them. This is the best solution I can find right now. I agree about having the clothes go to recycling to make rags. That is best for the environment. Unfortunately when I called Goodwill to ask about this, they did say that it’s too much work for them to do this. But then I asked at another, for profit, thrift store (in Seattle) and they said they will take these very old and stained clothes and recycle them. This is the best solution I can find right now.

]]> By: ARP http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3428 ARP Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:24:07 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3428 Depending on where you live, you can put the stuff you don't want next to your trash bin. I live in the city and inevitably, someone will sort through it (be they homeless or simply "dumpster divers") and take what they think is useful Depending on where you live, you can put the stuff you don’t want next to your trash bin. I live in the city and inevitably, someone will sort through it (be they homeless or simply “dumpster divers”) and take what they think is useful

]]> By: Kris http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3427 Kris Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:12:33 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3427 I keep a bin in my garage. My friends know to look in the bin when they come to visit for items I'm giving away that they may be able to use. When the bin becomes full, I bring it to Goodwill, get my receipt and I'm done. An 18 gallon bin works really well and doesn't take up a huge amount of space. I've found that donating items saves us more money than having a yard sale. If you keep track of your donations, you can really get money back at tax time. I use itsdeductible.com. I keep a bin in my garage. My friends know to look in the bin when they come to visit for items I’m giving away that they may be able to use. When the bin becomes full, I bring it to Goodwill, get my receipt and I’m done. An 18 gallon bin works really well and doesn’t take up a huge amount of space.

I’ve found that donating items saves us more money than having a yard sale. If you keep track of your donations, you can really get money back at tax time. I use itsdeductible.com.

]]> By: leah trabue http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3426 leah trabue Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:02:34 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3426 Okay, so here's a new problem. I've been trying to skip the yard sale, a la Flylady, because it tempts you to bring it back in or delay the sale. I also have so much stuff that keeping stuff waiting for the goodwill or DAV is hard. So, how do you prevent stuff you're waiting to donate/freecycle/sell from coming back into your life? Okay, so here’s a new problem. I’ve been trying to skip the yard sale, a la Flylady, because it tempts you to bring it back in or delay the sale. I also have so much stuff that keeping stuff waiting for the goodwill or DAV is hard. So, how do you prevent stuff you’re waiting to donate/freecycle/sell from coming back into your life?

]]> By: jchumanerecipe http://unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/comment-page-1/#comment-3425 jchumanerecipe Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:31:03 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/09/20/trash-goes-in-the-trash/#comment-3425 Let's not forget RECYCLING our trash when we can. Lots of states/cities run e-cycling programs and different nonprofits might use what you have (old towels? animal nonprofits/paint? clothing? possibly an arts or theatre organization) etc. Just because Craigslist or Freecycle doesn't pick it up, doesn't mean those are the only 2 reuse vehicles OR that it shouldn't be recycled responsibly if possible. Let’s not forget RECYCLING our trash when we can. Lots of states/cities run e-cycling programs and different nonprofits might use what you have (old towels? animal nonprofits/paint? clothing? possibly an arts or theatre organization) etc.

Just because Craigslist or Freecycle doesn’t pick it up, doesn’t mean those are the only 2 reuse vehicles OR that it shouldn’t be recycled responsibly if possible.

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