Have you ever thought "I have this stuff that I don't need anymore, but I don't want to throw it out." Throwing everything in the landfill seems so wasteful, so I had to find creative ways to remove things from my house and not just dump them. It made me really think about how to find new purposes for old items and I've made much more of a conscious effort to reduce without waste the past few years. And with the holidays coming up, it's a great way to clear out the old to make way for the new.
(I also highly suggest a challenge of getting rid of things for 40 days, it made me feel so much better!)
Here are five ideas on how to recycle:
1. Utilize resale/donate sites
The internet has made it so easy to resell or give away items — just be careful of scams! There are many to choose from, but my favorites are local Facebook groups. We have several different "Buy Nothing" groups in Allen (East, West, Central) and Wylie. These groups are local persons that either offer items (all for free) or where you can request gifts. We've given beds, books, clothing, and so much more to others that could use them, as well as received amazing items as well. One of our favorite chairs was from a "Buy Nothing" group. There is also a several "Mom Swap" groups which are essentially smaller, more local versions of Facebook Marketplace. When the local groups fail me then there is always the traditional Facebook Marketplace, which I've found a good place to sell practically anything. Baby clothes, furniture, you name it! And don't forget Nextdoor, this option tends to go outside of my smaller Facebook groups, but definitely a good option to keep it local.
2. Donate to a nonprofit
You can donate many gently-used items to nonprofits that help people. Allen Community Outreach is a great local charity that supports many families in our community. They have different drives throughout the year, but can always use food and seasonal clothing. We have donate numerous toys and nicer furniture for them to resale at their boutique to raise funds as well. We have several local animal shelters, including Allen Animal Shelter and Murphy Animal Shelter, that can typically use things like blankets and towels, cleaning supplies, and toys. In-Sync Exotics has a list of desired donated items that range from office and cleaning supplies to large buckets and left-over coffee containers. Goodwill and Salvation Army are always possibilities too! I was able to give away a lot blankets and towels to Allen Animal Shelter when we cleared out our closets.
 StockPlanets | Canva |
3. Sell old textbooks
Do you have old textbooks sitting around from college collecting dust? I did, and I learned that you can actually sell them back! There are a bunch of sites that buy back old textbooks. I used Go Textbooks, which allowed me to look up the ISBN of the book and know exactly how much money I would be getting.
4. Sell old DVDs or games
There are stores that sell used or old DVDs and video games that they purchase on the spot. We were able to sell a box of games we no longer used there and make some cash. GameStop is always a good option as well and we have locations in Allen and Murphy.
5. Research!
It's amazing the nonprofits and companies out there now that are recycling in amazingly creative ways. TerraCycle™, for instance, develops recycling solutions for waste streams that are not typically curbside recyclable and gets them to manufacturers who turn those items into everything from outdoor furniture and decking to athletic fields. Some communities have TerraCycle drop-off boxes, or you can order a Zero Waste Box sent to your home to fill.
There are dozens of creative companies out there that are working to find new and innovative ways to recycle. Find one whose mission you love and support them!
Now that I'm recycling more, I'm also considering my purchases more carefully. We're making swaps in our house for more sustainable items, such as choosing reusable water bottles and avoiding single-use plastics. Every little bit helps!
Rebecca Jaciuk is the publisher of Macaroni KID Downriver, Mich.
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