“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” We love this adage, and the concept is so relevant to what we do at Getting it Done Organizing. Cleaning out and decluttering is rewarding in and of itself, but when we’re able to do something for someone else while reaping the healthy benefits of decluttering, it’s a win-win.
What’s more, when we get rid of items in our home in an eco-friendly manner, we’re doing something for the planet. So, before you start to fill up the trash bin, take a read through these recycling tips and donation ideas.
Why We’re Wired to Hang onto Things We Don’t Need
Too much stuff causes stress. But the reality is that we often hold onto things because of three main emotions:
- Failure: We might feel a sense of failure for having bought something we really don’t need or use.
- Grief: We might feel grief for something sentimental – an old toy or clothing item from a special occasion.
- Fear: We might feel fear of future regret for getting rid of something we may need someday.
Clutter makes us feel overwhelmed and can cause frustration. The truth is that we feel better when we clear out what we simply don’t need. And if the sentimental is a concern, take a picture of it. It will last longer and is much easier to access when you want a “warm and fuzzy” memory without the physical footprint. If you want help preserving photographs, kid’s artwork, and other memories, we offer a memory preservation service for that!
What To Do With Your Clutter
Below, I’ve compiled a list of the most common repurposing and recycling categories we come across. Donations are personal, so I encourage you to tap into your passions when choosing where to give. For example, I have a friend passionate about helping women in need. She gives her gently used clothing and household items to her local battered women’s shelter.
1. Closets and Clothing
Clothing is the #1 category we come across for purging when working with clients.
- Local Charities: Drop off items at your local thrift store or favorite charity.
- Dress for Success is an international program that empowers women to achieve economic independence. In addition to helping women in need get prepared for job interviews, they provide these women with appropriate workwear. Check to see if you have a local chapter in your area and consider donating your gently used skirts, slacks, blazers, and business footwear there.
- Cinderella’s Closet is a national program created to give young women who would otherwise not have the financial means to attend prom the opportunity to do so. They accept gently used formal wear and accessories. Their call to action is “Turn Dresses into Dreams.” We love it!
- Don’t forget that you can recycle wire hangers. Don’t throw them away. For our clients, we suggest a hanger organizer to hold the hangers you bring home from the dry-cleaners. Once full, return the hangers with you on your next dry-cleaning trip for proper recycling.
Pro Tip: You don’t have to wait for a full closet clean-out to gather up clothing you no longer want. Keep a recycling box or bag in your closet and toss in items you come across in your day-to-day life. It is important to pull the items when you think about them so they don’t continue to clutter your closet. Make a trip to donate when the bag is full.
2. Toys and Playrooms
Did you know that U.S. consumers bear only 3% of the world’s children, but we buy 40% of the world’s toys? We can confirm that toy overwhelm is a big problem with most of our clients!
Here are our favorite ways to declutter toys and playrooms:
- Local Charities: Local thrift stores and charities usually accept toys. Make sure the toys are in good condition before donating.
- Religious Charities: Consider donating to your church, mosque, or synagogue.
- Crayons: These can be recycled through the National Crayon Recycling Program.
- Stuffed Animals: Stuffed Animals for Emergencies (SAFE) is a 100% volunteer-run organization that collects new and gently used stuffed animals to distribute to organizations supporting children in traumatic and emotional situations.
- LEGO Bricks: LEGO’s Replay Program makes it easy. Just box up the bricks, print the label, and send them off to be distributed to children in need.
Pro Tip: We always recommend purging and organizing your playroom before a birthday or holiday hits!
3. Furniture
Like clothing, most furniture you no longer want can still be put to good use.
- Charity Pickups: Many local thrift stores and charities offer free pickup for larger items.
- Your church, mosque, or synagogue may be interested.
- The Furniture Bank accepts gently used furniture to help families transitioning from homelessness.
4. Paint, Batteries, and Chemicals
These are hazardous to humans and the earth and must be disposed of responsibly.
- HHW Programs: Check your local Household Hazardous Waste program for scheduled curbside pick-up or drop-off hours for paint and chemicals. Click here for information on the Dallas HHW Program!
- Batteries: While some alkaline batteries can go in the trash (unless you live in California), the best option for all batteries is to recycle them. Stores like Home Depot and Office Depot often have in-store battery recycling stations.
- Pro tip: Keep a box in the pantry or closet to toss old batteries in. When it is full, make a trip to a convenient recycling spot.
5. Electronics and Cellphones
Electronics can do real damage to our environment if they end up in a landfill. Click here to see a list of electronic items that must be recycled.
- Local Recycling: Contact your city or county office to find out where and how they accept old electronics. Details for recycling electronic waste in Dallas can be found here.
- Donation: If the item still works and can be enjoyed by someone else, don’t recycle it. Consider donating to your local thrift store or favorite charity.
- Sell it: If the item is in good condition, you may be able to give it new life by selling it on Facebook Marketplace.
- Trade-In: Many providers will give you credit for old phones, and companies like Gazelle offer cash for old devices.
6. Prescription Medicines
Prescription medicines should never be flushed, as they end up in our water supply.
- The DEA provides several opportunities for safely disposing of prescription drugs via their local collections sites and National RX Take Back Day.
- Disposal Kiosks: Many pharmacies, including Walgreens, have special kiosks for safe recycling.
- Medical Disposal Bags: You can also purchase medical disposal bags at many pharmacies that allow you to seal meds and dispose of them safely at home.
Bonus Good-to-Know Recycling Tips:
- MAC Cosmetics: They accept old makeup containers in-store or online for recycling into new materials.
- Ink Cartridges: Most office supply stores accept these for recycling and give you store credit when you bring them in!
- Eyewear: Organizations like Lions Club International recycle old eyewear (and hearing aids) for those in need. Most optometrist offices maintain a donation box, as well, and will gladly accept what you have.
- General Search: Not sure how to recycle something? Earth911 is a fantastic, searchable resource for all things recycling.
Do Some Good While You Get Organized
Resist the urge to simply trash everything as you clean out and organize. By taking a few extra minutes to donate or recycle, you are doing something great for a fellow human being and our planet.
Need help with the purging process? If the thought of sorting through years of clutter feels overwhelming, our team is here to help. From hands-on decluttering to managing your donations, we handle the heavy lifting so you can enjoy a stress-free home.
Click here to book a consultation and let’s start your journey from chaos to calm!
