7 Tips to Sustainable Decluttering and Why It Matters
Many of you will have experienced the satisfaction of a good clean out, and we all love our homes to feel calm. But, on the other hand, have you ever stopped to consider where all of that unwanted stuff ends up?
When you declutter and spring clean, what happens to the things you no longer want or need? Do you send it all to a charity shop? And if so, do you know what they ultimately do with those items? Or do you leave furniture and household items on the roadside, or toss them in the tip?
As our precious world becomes increasingly overloaded with rubbish, decluttering with a sustainable approach matters more now, than ever before.
THINK BEFORE YOU BUY
At the outset, it is important to always consider your purchases before you buy. Follow the mantra of Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Reinvent, Repair, Rot and Recycle. Refuse to buy things you don’t really need, to begin with. Refuse to buy items that will break quickly, that are poorly and unethically made, which will end up on the roadside within months. Sadly, just like fast fashion, fast furniture and homewares are made to be used for a short time and then discarded, so that you will have to purchase a new item. Fast furniture is often made from poor quality materials like particle board, and will be tossed into landfill very quickly. Not only is this bad for the planet, but it is bad for your pocket. Adding to this, fast furniture often contains harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, which are terrible for your health. Try to buy better quality items that will last. Consider second-hand and vintage pieces for your home and clothing needs. Reduce the amount you buy. Fix things that are broken and find new uses for them. Lastly, recycle wherever possible.
GO YOUR OWN WAY
What is cluttered to one person, will be homely and warm to another. Personal choice should play a big part in how you choose to decorate and manage your home. It is important not to follow trends, or throw things out, just because someone tells you that they don’t like it, or the latest renovating show tells you it is so ‘off-trend’. If it makes you happy and your home is working well for you, then there is no need to toss anything. Decluttering is not just about tossing things away. It is also about organising and rearranging your home, so that there are no messy pain points. For example, if your table is covered in papers and bags and has become a general dumping ground, how can you sit and eat together? If your bedroom floor is a mass of clothes and other belongings, how can you feel rested? It most definitely increases your wellbeing when your home is organised and works well for you and your family. Creating a calm, uncluttered space, may be less about tossing things out and more about simply getting organised. Once you create regular routines to keep things decluttered, as well as having occasional larger sorting days, you will find it a lot easier to maintain a cleaner and calmer home, without having to add to the rubbish that is drowning our planet.
SEVEN TIPS TO GET STARTED ON A SUSTAINABLE DECLUTTER
When starting a sustainable declutter, it can be overwhelming to consider an entire house, so pick one space or one room, and start there. Once that room is complete, move to the next one.
Clear floors and surfaces first, so that you have space to stand, sit and walk in, while you work. It also visually clears the space, making you more motivated. Then move to cupboards and drawers, working one at a time.
Have a box for the charity shop and a box for give-aways – there might be someone in your family or circle of friends, who could use unwanted items.
Have a box for storage – there might be items you don’t need now, but may want later. As long as you have a storage place for these items, you can pop them in a box, crate or old suitcase, and stack them away out of sight.
Consider using buy, sell and swap pages on Facebook, or use e-bay or gumtree, for some of your better unwanted items.
Consider a garage sale – you will make cash and someone else will be able to use the things you no longer want or need.
If there are broken household items, furniture or clothing, that could be repaired, either have a go yourself, or outsource to someone who can do this for you. There are more and more repair cafes opening across Australia, where you can take items for repair. You can also take a class in sewing or basic carpentry, so that you can mend some things yourself. Always seek advice from an expert with electrical items.
Have a box for genuine rubbish and recycling, but as much as possible, try to reduce the number of items you send to landfills. When it comes to recycling, here are some great resources:
NSW EPA offer a host of information and resources on recycling and include a list of Community Recycling Centres, or CRCs. These centres accept problem wastes that can’t be collected via council kerbside waste and recycling collection services. NSW householders can drop off problem wastes at these centres year-round, free of charge. For residents who live on Sydney’s North Shore, visit North Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils in Artarmon.
Next time you have fluorescent lights, smoke detectors, paint, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, batteries and oils, drop them off at your local CRC instead of sending them to landfill.
The Department of the Environment and Energy offers E-waste recycling services across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia as part of the Australian Government’s National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme. This industry-funded scheme makes it easier for people to have their televisions, computers, printers, computer parts and accessories recycled for free.
Wanless is an Australian family-owned and operated company and accept general waste, e-waste, soft plastics, hazardous waste, medical waste, organics, paper and cardboard and much more.
Redcycle has teamed with Woolworths and Coles to make it easy for you to keep your plastic bags and soft plastics out of landfill. Collect all your soft plastics and drop them off at your local grocery store.
Finding a balance in your home, where you can fill it with just the right amount of things you love and need, and then having systems to keep things clean and organised, will help you to create a space you and your loved ones will want to linger within, and it will ultimately be better for you, your family and the planet.
If you need support in getting started on a sustainable declutter, we can help! ! Just get in touch via our contact page, to chat about how we can work with you to create a calmer, more organised home.
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