Additionally, re-read this post. You’ll see that I gave Kay a lot of advice for what to do with her stuffed animals that doesn’t involve putting them in the trash if they’re in decent condition. Also, the numerous comments for other ways to recycle the plushies are fantastic. But, if it turns out these stuffed animals are in really bad shape, I continue to support her putting trash in the trash. That’s not going to change.

This post, and your reaction to my comments, suggest that not only are you on an entirely different path, but that the goal is in a completely different place.

The original Q came from someone who has a few cardboard box too many of plush toys. No suggestion of a problem of ‘life of grime’ proportions. Most of what we call ‘trash’ has value, just not to us at that moment. It only becomes trash when mix it up with a whole lot of other stuff (e.g. in the wastestream and landfill) so that it loses its value (waste is a verb, not a noun).

I can’t do better than the many other commentators here:

Freecycle, craigs list, charity shops (for resale and recycling), specific charities (women’s aid, animal rescue shelters), repurpose as art. All great suggestions. All better suggestions than turning something that has inherent value (either in itself or in its materials) into trash.

That doesn’t mean that someone shouldn’t get rid of “clutter” – just to be more mindful about how they do so, so as to turn clutter into something useful again. Throwing it “away” doesn’t stop something being clutter – it just means the clutter from your house is now clutter in landfill or clutter in the ocean or clutter in a big pile on another continent. Simpler living, yeah maybe (but look at all the enormous amount of NEW STUFF we supposedly need to buy in order to live simply!)

Whoever said that it’s a good idea to mark clothes for recycling as such is absolutely right. It saves a lot of time, especially if there’s bags and bags!

As for upholstered furniture, a lot of the time that can’t be taken because of health and safety, more specifically it not fitting with fire safety regulations. The laws have changed and a LOT of old furniture doesn’t fit them so it can’t be resold. That’s also why it’s difficult to get rid of old beds – unless they’re new enough to be marked as complying with the latest regulations, it’s probably far easier to have them pulped down or something rather than find out if they comply (and they probably don’t).

I agree that some things belong in the trash, but there’s a difference between used toilet paper and a cuddly toy. If it’s good enough to donate, donate it (possibly after cleaning it). If it’s too shabby but can be recycled, find somewhere that will recycle it. Only if you can’t recycle it and it’s really too bad to be played with again should it be trashed. The bin is for rubbish, not things you can’t be bothered to deal with.

Your comments are written from the perspective of someone who probably already lives relatively simply and who has a low attachment to physical objects. However, not all of our readers are in the same position as you are. A great majority of our readers have homes stuffed, where damage has been done to objects in their storage spaces. Additionally, some readers will hold onto an object until they find the “perfect” home for it, which might never happen.

I’m not saying it’s virtuous to throw something away, but trash belongs in the trash. Watch an episode of hoarders where shovels are used to scrape up clutter from the floor — this stuff does NOT belong at Goodwill.

You are welcome to disagree with me, but if you do, you should offer up suggestions for recycling the materials beyond just complaining about my trash suggestion. Passing judgment on me does not help out anyone else to come up with alternate ideas. The purpose of the posts and comments on this site are to help people who have issues with parting with their clutter.

Making a virtue out of wasting stuff (and making people feel good about doing so “giving ourselves permission” etc….) is the opposite of what no impact man and others are talking about – despite your desire to be seen as on the same page.

Exactly! Wash them and let someone else play with them. We create enough garbage as a species as it is. No need to create more waste if they can be donated to shelters, hospitals, schools, etc. (after washing, of course.) I am not a fan of uncluttering my home by overcluttering the landfill.

Need I remind you about small pox deaths in the Native American community?