It feels so good to clear the clutter from any room (or the whole house if you’re feeling ambitious) but once you do the work, you have to figure out what to do with the stuff you’ve cleared out.
Some things get put in their proper place. If an item doesn’t have a permanent home, either find one or consider whether it’s something you need to keep.
Other stuff is obviously destined for the trash.
Some things can be tossed in your recycling bin and many items can be donated, but that doesn’t mean everything should just be shipped off to your local Goodwill or thrift shop.
Here are some helpful guidelines for handling the clutter and how to get rid of almost anything!
A Note About Recycling:
It’s important to check with your local recycling center or waste management facility to figure out what can go in your recycling bin.
Though our intentions are good, when we put things in the recycling bin that aren’t recyclable, it makes more work for the recycling center and can even damage the sorting equipment.
Your local recycling center should have information about what can and can’t be recycled on their website. Different areas have different restrictions so be sure to check.
For example, our recycling center now takes milk and broth cartons, which other cities don’t allow.
Some things are almost always non-recyclable, such as light bulbs, broken glass, ceramics, food-soiled paper, and plastic bags (see below about what to do with bags).
Now, what about some of that other stuff we all accumulate?
Electronics
Some areas have local electronics recycling programs so check with your waste management facility. If you don’t have that option, there are plenty of places that will help you get rid of electronics responsibly.
Best Buy will accept many different types of electronics for recycling including TVs, computers, phones, and even vacuum cleaners. Some items include a fee and the program varies by state. Just click on the category of electronics you want to drop off and you’ll find all the info you need.
Apple will recycle phones, computers, and other electronics either in-store or with a shipping option. You can even get trade-in credit for eligible devices.
Be sure to get rid of personal data before you recycle any device. Here are instructions for Apple products and here are instructions for Android devices.
Prescription Medication
When you clear bathroom clutter, you should always get rid of expired or leftover medicines. But it’s not as simple as throwing pills in the trash.
Experts recommend against putting prescription medication in the garbage because not only is it dangerous for children in your home who could find the medication, but it’s also a possible environmental hazard when medicines end up in landfills.
It’s also a bad idea to flush medication down the toilet because it can pollute drain water that travels to the ocean.
The best plan is to take your prescription medicines to an approved disposal location. Check the DEA search site for dropoff locations in your area.
Plastic Bags
The average American family takes home around 1500 plastic bags each year with only about 1% of bags being recycled. That means that most families recycle 15 of those 1500 bags with the rest ending up in landfills or as litter that pollutes the environment.
Reusable bags are cheap and easy to come by these days. Most stores sell reusable bags on-site. But even if you’ve made the switch to reusable grocery bags there’s a chance you might end up with a few plastic bags at some point.
Plastic bags can’t be recycled in your normal curbside bin, but there are plenty of locations that offer a recycling option. Many grocery stores and Target locations have a bin for used plastic bags.
It’s not just grocery bags you can put in those bins at the store. You can also recycle plastic bread bags, dry cleaning bags, deflated shipping pillows, and plastic wrap from packages of paper towels and toilet paper.
Batteries
Instead of dumping old batteries in the trash, save them for your next trip to Walgreens or Home Depot.
Consider using rechargeable batteries when possible. These rechargeable batteries work great for devices that use up battery power quickly, like video game controllers.
Clothes get worn out, stained, damaged, or outgrown… especially if you have kids. However, the average American throws 81 pounds of clothing in the garbage each year.
Clothing
Clothes are one of the most common issues when you want to clear clutter from your home. Not only does everyone need clothing, but clothes can be outgrown, stained, or torn.
Clothes that are in good condition can sometimes be sold in local resale shops or online at sites like Poshmark or Facebook marketplace.
Gently used clothes and shoes can often be donated to non-profits like Goodwill or The Salvation Army. You can also check with local shelters about clothing donation policies and what items they currently need.
For Days is a newer site that helps you recycle clothing, bags, shoes, and linens that aren’t in good enough shape to be donated. You buy a “take back bag” for $20, fill it with your unusable items, and ship it using the prepaid label. For each bag you ship, you earn $50 to spend on the For Days site.
You can also drop off items that can’t be donated to these retailers for textile recycling:
- Levi Strauss & Co – accepts clothing & shoes of any brand
- H&M – accepts clothing of any brand
- The North Face – accepts clothing & shoes of any brand they carry
- Patagonia – accepts only Patagonia brand products
Shoes
Shoes in good condition can be sold on resale sites like Poshmark. They can also be donated to non-profits like Goodwill or The Salvation Army, or to local charities that provide shoes at low or no cost.
Another option is to repair shoes that you still like. While shoe repair is far less common than it used to be, you can get shoes resoled or broken heels fixed to get more life out of a favorite pair.
Just like clothes, shoes sometimes get to the point that they are unwearable. Donating unusable shoes simply makes the disposal someone else’s problem.
Ultimately, those shoes will end up in the landfill. So what options do you have?
Nike has a program for recycling athletic shoes. They’ll take athletic shoes from any brand but don’t accept sandals, dress shoes, boots, or any shoes with metal parts like cleats or spikes. Check with your local Nike store to find out if they accept shoes for recycling.
Terracycle offers Zero Waste Boxes™ for shoes and footwear. On the plus side, you can send most shoes including sandals, boots, and heels. The downside is that the cost for boxes starts at $156.
As a last resort, you should dispose of unusable shoes in the trash bin. Most recycling centers do not accept shoes and putting them in your recycling bin is wishful thinking at best.
Toys
As all parents know, toys are a big contributor to our cluttered homes. Unfortunately, most toys can’t be easily recycled because they’re made of multiple types of plastic. So what’s the best way to responsibly dispose of toys that are no longer wanted or needed?
Many used toys and games can be donated to local non-profits or charity resale stores. Goodwill and other major charities will typically accept used toys and games that are clean, functional, and appear in good condition.
Toys (as well as other items) can be posted in your local Buy Nothing group on FaceBook where members can request items they’re interested in.
You can also try to sell gently used toys. Facebook often has local resale groups and eBay is good for toys of higher quality or value.
For items that are broken or missing pieces, consider a toy recycling program. While toy recycling has a long way to go, some brands are making a strong effort to help keep their toys out of the landfill.
- Hasbro brand toys, games, dolls, etc can be submitted for FREE here.
- LOL Surprise!™ dolls can be recycled for FREE here.
- Stuffed animals and plush toys can be recycled here for a (not small) fee.
- Other toys of the plastic and electronic variety can be recycled here for a (not small) fee.
Books
As a constant reader, I know how much room can be taken up by books. While there are many that I love and want to keep, I also read many that don’t need a permanent place on my shelf.
Clear book clutter by donating used books to large charitable organizations like Goodwill and Salvation Army. Many libraries also have a book donation program.
Keep an eye out for Little Free Libraries in your neighborhood or consider starting one yourself.
The Takeaway
When you decide to clear the clutter that builds up in your home, part of the job is figuring out what to do with it. The good news is that a lot of items can be recycled, donated, or given a second life.
It often takes more time, energy, and sometimes money to bypass the dumpster and dispose of items in an environmentally responsible way, but every small step makes a difference.
If clutter is a consistent problem in your home, consider the time and money it takes to deal with it before you buy something new. By resisting the urge to simply fill our lives with stuff we can make a positive impact on our stress level, our wallet, and the environment.