I read two We Hate to Waste articles with some great tips that I want to share, along with some tips of my own.
The “Visible Mending is Trending with Jussara Lee” article talks about using a tear in clothing as an opportunity to be creative and add style to your clothes. An example is a sweater or shirt with an outside ripped pocket, instead of mending the tear as is, take the opportunity to create a new pocket out of contrasting material. Or sew a seam in a crazy zig zag in another color thread to create an abstract design. Please click on the link above to go to the article to see the inspiring pictures! The second article is titled “Sustainable Fashion on a Budget.” It discusses taking care of your clothes so that they last longer by carefully reading the labels for proper care. The other tip from this article that I wanted to share is to buy fewer clothes, but buy quality pieces that you love. “This idea of buying consciously, as opposed to the trend-driven stockpiling of cheaply made clothes, is not easy. A lot of time, money, and advertising are spent trying to convince us that we need that new pair of shoes. The whole idea of seasonal collections in the fashion industry perpetuates this never-ending desire for the new. Buying quality pieces that you love is a habit, however, and with practice it is not only possible, but also extremely rewarding to bow out of the fashion rat race.” What I do is try to buy mostly used clothes at cheap prices. I can then donate them back to the charity of my choice when I no longer want them, keeping the reuse cycle going. I tend to buy from thrift stores and garage sales, but this takes time as sometimes you will locate a great find and other times strike out. Another option, and one that consistently carries more recent and higher quality items, is to go to secondhand clothing stores. If you don’t feel comfortable buying used clothes, try starting off with accessories and jewelry. Below is a picture of some accessory thrift store finds that cost under $4 each!
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Phoenix is a great city for thrift store shopping, besides Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, there are a huge number of smaller stores dedicated to certain charities or for-profit resale. Below are three of my favorite charity stores. Treasures 4 Teachers just opened a new T4T Thrift Store right next store to their Treasures 4 Teachers store (3025 S 48th St #101, Tempe, AZ 85282). While Treasures 4 Teachers is only open to teachers, the T4T Thrift Store is open to the public Tuesday-Friday 10 am-5 pm and Saturday 10 am-4pm. The proceeds from the thrift store will go back to the Treasures 4 Teachers nonprofit to provide low-cost materials for teachers to use in their classroom. This thrift store has high-quality items, including craft supplies (beads, scrap book material, yarn), jewelry, furniture, and accessories. See the album below for pictures and a donation list. HALO Animal Rescue Thrift Boutique is located in a plaza with several for-profit resale shops (11649 Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85020). This store has a lot of accessories for your home, jewelry, clothes, and a few furniture pieces. It is open Tuesday-Friday - 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday - 10 am to 4 pm. Arizona Humane Society Thrift Stores have several locations. The one I frequent is 13401 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85022 and it is open daily 10 am-6 pm. This store features clothes and accessories, plus a large selection of furniture. Every Saturday is half-price day! Other days have great sales as well. I like the way the Arizona Humane Society summarized the benefits of thrift store donating and shopping: “Whether purchasing goods or donating items, you are making a difference in the life of a homeless animal. Every time you shop at one of our thrift stores or make a donation, you are helping to provide food, shelter and medical attention for our pets and making moments of hope and second chances for happiness possible!” Pick your favorite charity to support by donating or shopping. Have fun and please share this post. Thanks. :-) Besides donation shopping, where I buy towels and blankets at the thrift stores for one of the local animal shelters, I decided to start an additional volunteer effort. Whenever I see something being thrown away that fits into my car and I can make over with the extra supplies I have on hand, I pick it up. I am transforming the items for reuse by donating them to HALO (Help Animals Live On) Thrift Boutique for resale.
The benefits of this new endeavor are:
Please see the Transformation page for both the Before and After pictures of my first project (white desk, After picture below), with more pictures to follow soon. At some point I would like to expand on this to have friends and new acquaintances (that could be YOU) meet to transform items together. We could pick one or two items at a time, depending on the scope of the project. We could learn DIY skills from each other and pool our extra resources together for use (such as paint) and the “trash” to turn into treasures. If you are interested send me an email [email protected]. Want to learn more about different sustainability topics for free? Here are some resources for you to try:
I added a new page to this website, which touches on sustainability and health. I just completed a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from the University of Arizona and I wanted to share some of the interesting information I learned. Reuse plays a part in the sustainable lifestyle, which ties to our health. I don't want to repeat the information on that page, so here are a few interesting bits that I left off. :-)
I ran across this great video I wanted to share from my Sociocultural and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health class where we learned about race differences...or lack of. There is more variation in genes according to where you live than your race: Race the Power of an Illusion. According to the video: "Race is no longer considered a true biological distinction among researchers. There is little variation in genetic composition between races, and the physical characteristics distinguishing races result from a small number of genes that do not relate closely to behavior or disease. In fact, there is more genetic variation within population groups than between them, meaning that two individuals with the same ethnicity may have more disparate genotypes than two individuals of different ethnicities." Where we live and how healthy our community is can make more of a difference to our health than our race. For example, neighborhoods with more Complete Streets (click on the name to watch the short video and learn what these are!) and parks encourage residents to exercise and spend extra time outdoors, which can improve health. This last topic has a direct tie-in with reuse. Another way to improve health is to bring the presence of nature indoors through design elements. These designs can be accomplished through using reused or reclaimed materials!
Thank you for reading this post and please share! Want to reduce your clutter and make your life simpler while helping others? Donate those unwanted items. For a related two-minute video: https://spark.adobe.com/video/REMvB I recently took a tour of the Goodwill of Central Arizona’s Resource Operations Center. I learned that they take pretty much anything, except for hazardous waste and TV’s older than the last five years. For example, they have salvage dealers who will buy one shoe and ripped clothing/bedding (recycle it into insulation). Through Dell™ Reconnect (https://www.dellreconnect.com/) they accept these items, in any condition: > Monitors > Desktops > Laptops > Printers > Scanners > Hard drives (internal or external) > Keyboards > Mice > Speakers > Cords and cables > Ink and toner cartridges > Webcams > Printers > Software (please include the license key) > Microsoft® Xbox 360® systems and peripherals > Microsoft Zune® systems and peripherals If you have another cause you would like to donate to, just remember to visit their website to see what they do and do not accept. For example, I also donate to Treasure 4 Teachers and HALO Thrift Boutique. You can also do the reverse and donation shop for your favorite charities. For more information see the How to Use Your Shopping Skills for Good blog from 9/17/2015. Donating and buying used items for reuse, helps the economy and environment. Happy New Year! I have written a few blogs about how you can become a reuse hero at work, but I want to broaden the scope for this blog to why businesses should move towards sustainability, which includes reuse.
First a quick definition. Sustainability is simply meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability adds value to the organization, employee, customer, and community. It can contribute to and support organizations’ goals. *A survey of 728 businesses from the Society of Human Resource Managers, BSR and Aurosoorya asked about the main driver of organizations’ investment in sustainability and the top five reasons submitted are to:
The top four benefits of sustainability reported by these survey respondents:
Employees want to work for and customers want to work with or purchase products from a company that makes a difference and is concerned about operating responsibly. Sustainability does not need to be expensive. It can save money and be simple, such as donating your unwanted items (office supplies/furniture, manufacturing discards or cafeteria food) leasing equipment rather than buying, buying reusable products, etc. Creating a better workplace by using LEED principles can significantly reduce costs over time and can improve employees’ health and productivity. Sustainability, corporate citizenship, and volunteering are a part of wellness programs like WeSpire (http://www.wespire.com/) for a reason. Healthy, responsible living and improved health are connected. To recap, sustainability has many business benefits, including:
Sustainability is not just for tree huggers, it makes business sense!! :-) Please share or retweet this article and spread the word about the benefits of being sustainable. Thank you. *Reference: SHRM report: HR central to organizations’ sustainability efforts. (2011, April 11). Retrieved from: http://www.shrm.org/about/pressroom/pressreleases/pages/sustainabilityreport.aspx Okay this isn’t really reuse, but it strengthens your ability to make a difference along with reuse! You already donate your unwanted items and/or donation shop for your favorite charity, but how else can you help your favorite organization without spending money and taking a lot of time?
The answer is to enroll in community rewards programs. Amazon Smile donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible Amazon Smile purchases to your favorite charity. To sign up go to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/86-0832160. Now there is another step that has to be done each time, but it is pretty simple. Before ordering, sign in using the Amazon Smile link https://smile.amazon.com/. After you sign in, just order and pay like normal. Fry's, a local grocery store, has a Community Rewards Program that is even easier to use. Have your Fry’s V.I.P. Card out and go to https://www.frysfood.com/topic/community/#/new-community-rewards-program. Once you're enrolled, you'll earn rewards for your chosen organization every time you shop and use your V.I.P Card! Now of course again there is one catch, you have to re-enroll every year. If you are not living in an area with a Fry’s Food, check out your local grocery stores for similar programs. Two more options that I have read about, but not tried yet are http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop, where you create an account, pick your charity, and then shop using coupons with a percentage going to charity, and http://www.wooftrax.com/, where you support your local animal organization by walking your dog. Use the app each time you go for a walk. Please take the few minutes to sign up for these rewards and make a difference! For more information on reuse and donation shopping see http://reusephoenix.weebly.com/blog. Thanks for reading and please share/retweet. :-) Treasures 4 Teachers (http://www.treasures4teachers.org) is a Phoenix creative reuse center dedicated to providing low-cost supplies to teachers. There are many businesses that donate to help this nonprofit be successful. Donations are tax deductible and reduce businesses’ disposal costs. For more information see http://www.slideshare.net/sarahlyon12/treasures-4-teachers-slide-show-for-business-donations. Note that if you do not live in Phoenix you can check out the creative reuse center listing below for a center near you! http://www.lancastercreativereuse.org/directory-creative-reuse-centers.html. Not sure what to donate? Let's take a look at some examples. Phoenix Baptist Hospital donates items in their Purple Barrel Program. Barrels are located on every surgical floor with a collection site in the basement. Treasures 4 Teachers picks up the donations weekly. Employees can bring in items from home, but they concentrate on collecting items from the hospital that would otherwise be thrown away, such as: • Blue wrap • Opened/unused disposable sheets • Plastic lids from medicines • Plastic containers/trays (Pharmacy trays, Bunny Kit trays, and Clean Procedural Trays) • Motors from Disposable Suction/Irrigation Set • Markers • Blue Plastic Hangers from the secondary tubing package • Tubex containers • Foam strip from the Chlorihexidine “Bath” package Other healthcare industry examples are St Jude Medical who gives plastic squares (manufacturing discard) from making pace makers, jars, and office supplies, and Cardinal Health who donates foam coolers. Manufacturing cast offs and discards come from BAE Systems in the form of blankets, thread, foam blocks, material, strapping, Velcro, and many other items. PING gives bubble wrap bags, socks, silica beads, and golf balls. Mesker Door gives leftover wood from the making of security doors. Boeing donates caps, plastic bags, safety glasses, and bins. Central Arizona Project donates piping, metal pieces, and wiring. Shutterfly donates paper, envelopes, and marketing items that don’t sell. Several local restaurants collect wine corks. Some other materials that you might not have thought could be donated are: • Gaylords, cabinets, shelving, and barrels • CDs, DVDs, and their cases • Cups (paper and plastic) • Foam, Mylar, sponges, vinyl, wire, and magnets • Integrated Circuit Packaging • Plastic (pieces, bottles, caps, packaging materials, and utensils) • PVC pipe • Returned products • Scrap canvas and fabric • Tubes • Wallpaper books Please check out the slideshow for visual examples. I hope this gives you some ideas of what your business or employer could donate!! Together we can make a difference. As always thank you for reading this post and please share or retweet. Reuse is to use something again and creative reuse is taking unwanted items and giving them a new purpose by transforming them into pieces of art, home decoration or other useful items.
A creative reuse center can be described as a craft store combined with a funky garage sale where coffee cans, paper towel rolls, stacks of paper, bins of colorful material, beads, yarn, and other odds and end items are waiting to be transformed! These items can come from individuals or businesses. Some creative reuse centers are only open to teachers or artists, while others are open to the public. What are the benefits to creative reuse? It helps you unleash your creativity. When I first started creatively reusing things I did not consider myself artistic. I was not expecting to have so much fun creating something and while I still can’t draw or paint a masterpiece, I can use my glue gun and regular painting skills to make items (see picture below). :-) It is a fun, cheap way to spend time with your children or friends. How do you find a creative reuse center in your area? There are two directories http://www.lancastercreativereuse.org/directory-creative-reuse-centers.html or http://www.artofrecycle.org/our_neighbors.html. Here are two short videos to learn more about reuse and creative reuse: https://youtu.be/MHzRmyF9cWk https://youtu.be/MgcWRefFrNs Please share this to spread the word about the benefits of creative reuse. Thank you! A great article that gives ideas on how to teach kids to reduce, reuse, and recycle is: http://www.everydayhealth.com/green-health/earth-day-teaching-kids.aspx.
To make learning more fun the EPA has a page with games (http://www2.epa.gov/recycle/reduce-reuse-recycle-resources-students-and-educators) and a coloring book (http://www.epa.gov/wastes/education/pdfs/jellyjar.pdf) that you can print off on scrap paper of course. :-) Or another good website with games is Kids Be Green (http://www.kidsbegreen.org/). The next website is a fun one that spotlights a kids band that made their instruments from reusing items. You can click on the video at the bottom of this page to hear them play (http://www.timeforkids.com/news/reduce-reuse-replay/35851). A website to help save money is Waste Free Lunches, which shows you how to save $1.37 per day (http://wastefreelunches.org/what-is-a-waste-free-lunch-program.html#what-does-it-look-like). Note this also saves adults money with their lunches! Finally for low-cost and fun reuse craft projects check out my Pinterest board https://www.pinterest.com/sarahlyon12/reuse-for-kids/! Please share or retweet to spread the word. Thanks. Getting support for reuse and other green initiatives can be tough! This week I am going to go over a few resources that I found.
Green Plus has a great article on reuse http://gogreenplus.org/nuts-and-bolts-guide/planet-nuts-and-bolts-guide/waste-reduction-responsible-disposal/reusing-materials/. “Ask yourself the following questions when throwing something away at work: Can we use this somewhere else in our organization? Could someone outside the organization use this?” Case studies are an excellent way to get ideas or strengthen your proposal. A website that has case studies to download for free is Stop Waste http://www.stopwaste.org/preventing-waste/business/reduce-and-reuse-case-studies. While not about reuse, Keep America Beautiful has a website with resources and tools on engaging employees in recycling http://recyclingatwork.org/tools-resources/. From my Arizona State University Executive Master’s for Sustainability Leadership program I have learned to make sure that your initiative or project ties in with the company goals. When presenting your idea tell a story and try to show people, rather than just presenting your idea in a PowerPoint with data. Also make sure you end the presentation with a strong message that clearly outlines what you want them to do. Good luck! Please share or retweet. Do you love the rush of a good bargain? If you love to shop, but want to reduce the amount of stuff that you have for yourself, the solution is to buy used items for your favorite charity!
Now not everyone is as into reuse as we are, so I have to put in a statement that is a bit of a bummer. Whether donating your items or buying used items to donate, you have to be VERY careful that the items are what the charity wants, because if it isn’t (even though it might be perfectly good or even recyclable) many charities will throw the items away! Most charities have a donation list of items they do and don't accept, but if you are unsure just ask when you are dropping your items off or before you buy donations. Goodwill of Central Arizona accepts almost anything, so if you don’t have time they are the best bet for general donations. However, most of us have a different cause that we want to help too, so onto the fun concept of donation shopping. The cause near and dear to me is animals. I shop at thrift stores and garage sales to find items for the animal shelters that I have verified that they need. I will attach a picture of what I purchased last Saturday at Goodwill’s ½ price day. I got one lap blanket, five towels, and three baby blankets all for $7.50! I had fun picking out the softest towels for the best price and hunting for bargains in the blanket aisles…and I got an extra high because I was doing something good! :-) Now it is your turn to unleash those mad shopping skills to help others. Happy shopping! Please share or retweet this. Thanks. The City of Phoenix has a free Talking Trash Workshop (https://www.phoenix.gov/nsd/neighborhoodcollege) where you can see the trash and recycling process and ask questions. I took the class a few weeks ago and found that this experience emphasized the benefits of reuse over recycling. I knew that recycling takes more energy and resources than reuse, but I didn’t realize that a lot of recyclables are wasted in the sorting process, along with the waste that occurs in the process of turning recyclables into products. People put plastic bags and other non-recyclables into their recycling bins. The material from the bins gets dumped from the truck and put onto conveyer belts. Contract employees then take off anything they see that should not be there. The problem is that in this process a lot of good recyclables get swept away with the bad items and are sent to the trash. Also even with the latest sorting technology for plastic, paper, cardboard, metal, etc., it is not always effective and more recyclable items get discarded through that process. :-( I found the waste in the recycling process quite depressing, as people think they are doing something great by recycling and the material still gets discarded. Now don’t get me wrong recycling overall, although inefficient, is still better than throwing items away! I am assuming too that recycling where you sort items before giving them to the recycler (such as office paper only that goes straight to the paper recycler) is much more efficient than the single stream (all recyclables are mixed together) recycling I saw. However, reducing and reusing definitely uses less energy and resources and is much more effective! I have some pictures from the tour. Please share or retweet to spread the word about reuse. Thanks! Businesses can integrate reuse and make an impact on their zero waste or waste reduction plans by:
Reusing in Procurement/Supply Chain --Buying used or leasing items --Buying products that use less packaging --Buying in bulk --Buying reusable over disposable items Maintaining and Repairing Products Food Waste Donation (employees, food banks or shelters) or Composting Donating Other Items --AZStRUT or Students Recycling Used Technology accepts almost all electronic equipment, except CRT monitors. http://www.azstrut.org/ --Treasures 4 Teachers accepts and can pick up standard office supplies donations, but they also accept manufacturing cast offs! http://www.treasures4teachers.org/ or http://www.slideshare.net/sarahlyon12/treasures-4-teachers-slide-show-for-business-donations --Stardust Building Supplies accepts cabinets, fixtures, appliances and other building material for reuse. They also offer a free deconstruction service. http://www.stardustbuilding.org/ Engaging Employees --Green Teams (ask for employee ideas!) --Apps like WeSpire http://www.wespire.com/ If you work for an organization that makes a product, then the circular economy principles can be applied by designing products to be easily maintained/repaired, reused/redistributed, and refurbished/remanufactured. http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/circular-economy/interactive-system-diagram Interface and Xerox are two companies who do this well. To get some more ideas on how to help move your organization to become more efficient check out this summary guide that lists references to explore. http://www.slideshare.net/sarahlyon12/sustainable-office-tips Thank you for reading this blog! Please share this to spread the word. :-) REUSE.International (http://www.reuse.international/) is in the process of developing toolkits and a reuse movement map with opportunities. They also offer consultancy and training services. The other reuse organizations that you could contact to learn more or ask questions are Reuse Institute (http://www.reuseinstitute.org/) and Reuse Alliance (http://reusealliance.org/). Reuse Institute offers Master Reuser training and all organizations have opportunities for volunteers and advisors.
ReuseConex is an international reuse conference and expo (http://www.reuseconex.org/). The next one is scheduled for fall 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. Reuse Programs and Strategies is a presentation aimed at cities, but has some great ideas for events and measuring the impact of reuse: http://www.slideshare.net/R3Conference/reuse-programs-and-strategies In my next blog next I’ll talk about ways businesses can reuse. Thank you for reading this and please share/tweet to spread the word about reuse! I had a break from school this week, so I added some new content to the http://reusephoenix.weebly.com/ website. The “About” page has been expanded to include more background information and is now called “About and Why Reuse.” There is also a new page on the website called “How to Reuse,” which provides ways that you can reuse and two updated summary guides.
The summary guides originally were put together, from the resources listed in the Reference pages, in 2010 for a Sustainable Living (employee) Group where I worked. I went through and checked all the links and updated them this week. Note that I am not endorsing the outside websites listed in the summary guides, but listing them as an FYI and the guides are for personal use only. I will post the links below. http://www.slideshare.net/sarahlyon12/going-green-and-sustainable-living-information http://www.slideshare.net/sarahlyon12/sustainable-office-tips The Natural Resource Defense Agency’s Smarter Living section has a lot of helpful information on living greener too http://www.nrdc.org/living/default.asp. As always thanks for reading this and please retweet or share to spread the word about the benefits of reuse. :-) Check out the trailer for an upcoming Reuse Documentary http://www.alexeaves.com/reusedocumentary/. The documentary features footage from videographers who traveled around the entire U.S. to find people reusing in original ways to prove that reusing is not only more beneficial for people, planet, and wallet than recycling, but it’s easy, it’s fun, and it’s everywhere… The trailer looks great, hopefully it comes here!
Another movie that is out now in certain cities is Racing To Zero. “Racing To Zero is a quick-moving, upbeat documentary presenting new solutions to the global problem of waste. By simply substituting the word RESOURCE for the word GARBAGE, a culture can be transformed, and a new wealth of industries can emerge.” To see the trailer go to http://trash24.org/. Here are three reuse YouTube clips that I recommend viewing:
Do you have a favorite reuse YouTube video to share? If you don’t want to comment on this blog, remember you can share your thoughts and ideas on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/reusephoenix. Thank you. Please share this link. Cut down on unwanted catalogs with PaperKarma. (https://www.paperkarma.com/) Take a picture of the catalog address label, submit it through the app, and you will be removed from the catalog’s mailing list!
When I first learned about the maker movement, which in my simple terms is making something yourself rather than buying it or learning through doing, I associated it with traditional crafts such as sewing, candle making, weaving, etc. However, that is only a small piece. Googling maker movement brings up more references to engineering-oriented pursuits such as electronics, robotics and 3-D printing. I found a good description from a Time article (http://time.com/104210/maker-faire-maker-movement/):
“The maker movement, as we know, is the umbrella term for independent inventors, designers and tinkerers. A convergence of computer hackers and traditional artisans, the niche is established enough to have its own magazine, Make, as well as hands-on Maker Faires that are catnip for DIYers who used to toil in solitude. Makers tap into an American admiration for self-reliance and combine that with open-source learning, contemporary design and powerful personal technology like 3-D printers. The creations, born in cluttered local workshops and bedroom offices, stir the imaginations of consumers numbed by generic, mass-produced, made-in–China merchandise.” The Maker Movement itself doesn’t necessarily involve reuse. Many products are made from new resources. However, some products are made from reused items, especially those that involve tinkering. :-) If you are interested in learning more and joining the movement, you can use second-hand materials or reuse materials in the products that you make. You can become a Reuse Hero, setting the example, by telling and showing others what you were able to make from reused items. The Phoenix area has an excellent high-tech resource in the ASU Chandler Innovation Center (http://www.techshop.ws/ts_chandler.html). They offer memberships and classes and you do not need to be a Chandler resident. ASU Chandler Innovation Center 249 E. Chicago St. Chandler, AZ 85225 Phone (480) 327-0820 [email protected] One more tip, for a useful Maker website go to Instructables: http://www.instructables.com/ Happy (Re)Making! The EPA article “Reducing and Reusing Basics” (http://www2.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-and-reusing-basics) suggests:
The blog from last week gives some websites to help you find used items. Another website that has some products made from reused materials or available for reuse is Etsy (www.etsy.com). Note not everything on Etsy has been upcycled (upcycle is reusing discarded objects or materials in such a way as to create a product of a higher quality or value) or is available for reuse, but you can find some homemade and second-hand items. A website and app to help you learn how to repair items is iFixit (www.ifixit.com). “iFixit is a global community of people helping each other repair stuff. Let's fix the world, one device at a time. Why repair? Repair saves you money. It saves the environment. And it connects us to our things. Ditch the throwaway economy. Join the repair revolution.” I have not tried this website, but Zilok (http://us.zilok.com/) is a website dedicated to “Rent anything, On-line! Rentals from Businesses and Individuals.” I also found two other articles with links to more websites http://www.ashiftedperspective.com/9-resource-for-sharing-borrowing-and-renting-used-stuff/ and http://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence/the-sharing-economy-1.2983680. Whether you decide to reuse by buying used or in bulk, repairing, borrowing, renting or sharing items you will save money, along with being a great example for others to follow! Everyone has probably heard of Craigslist (https://www.craigslist.org) to sell, give away or purchase items for reuse. If you have an item to give away you can also use Freecycle (https://www.freecycle.org/) and if you don’t mind using the mail, then you can give Yerdle a try (https://yerdle.com/).
Freecycle is a great spot to post or acquire items for projects (such as buckets/jugs or magazines), to try to get items reused before setting them out to the curb (there are so many good items that people put out for bulk trash pickup!), or give items away that a thrift store won’t take (example moving boxes). If you are tech savvy and can help moderate the website, it can also be a good a volunteer opportunity. Freecycle was actually started right here in Arizona! “The Freecycle concept has since spread to over 85 countries, where there are thousands of local groups representing millions of members -- people helping people and changing the world one gift at a time.” https://www.freecycle.org/about/background Freecycle is a free service that is easy to sign up for and use. You can either post an Offer with your free item or post a Wanted request if you need an item. I have not tried a Wanted request yet, but I have used Freecycle to giveaway items. I have had more success with Freecycle than with Craigslist, because my free posts get buried easily on Craigslist. People have respond quickly to my Freecycle Offers, I give them my address and get a date they will come for pickup (usually that same day or the next day), and then I simply set the item on my porch or near my garage for pick-up. It is a fast process that gives a great feeling from helping people as a reward! Yerdle is another option. It is website and an app that has low-cost used items from users, but it is not as easy to use as Freecycle. I downloaded the app and then was confused. I finally found instructions at https://yerdle.zendesk.com/hc/en-us: 1. “Post a pic. Take photos of stuff you once loved but don't need anymore. Check your closet, garage, or kitchen – you'll find plenty of things that someone else could use. 2. Let it go. Ship your item to its new home in 5 days. We provide pre-paid UPS shipping labels to make it easy. Anything under 10lbs can be shipped on Yerdle. 3. Get what you need. By giving your stuff on Yerdle, you earn Yerdle Reuse Dollars. We save you money by unlocking the value of things you already own, allowing you to drive your prices all the way down to $0 per item -- so you only pay shipping! Our shipping is subsidized, allowing you to get items for 4, 5, or 6 bucks.” How do you get Yerdle dollars? You get $25 for signing up and you earn more by giving away items on Yerdle. You can also make Yerdle money from referring others or you can buy it. One other thing worth mentioning, that is specific to boxes and moving supplies, is U-Haul’s two programs Take a box, leave a box and Box Exchange. I have not used them myself, but for more information see http://www.uhaul.com/Articles/About/112/boxes. Thank you for taking the time to read this post! Please share or spread the word about the benefits of reuse. :-) Ever wonder why Goodwills in different areas have different rules on what they accept, sales, and programs?
Goodwills are part of a network of 165 independent, community-based organizations in the United States and Canada. Each local Goodwill must be accredited, apply for membership and meet certain criteria established by Goodwill Industries International (GII). They maintain their own culture and operate differently to reach the same goal of putting people to work . http://www.goodwill.org/about-us/ Goodwill of Central Arizona has 50% off Saturdays! Everything in the stores is half price. You can find great bargains in clothes, bedding, knick knacks, towels,DVDs, books, toys, pictures, furniture, etc. If you don't find something at the first store (highly unlikely you won't find anything :-)) don't lose hope. Try another store or come back another time. Merchandise changes all the time. For the sale schedule see : http://www.goodwillaz.org/events/. I really enjoy shopping on sale days and have found great bargains with some items still having a store price tag on them. Reuse is best, but if you can't reuse an item as is, it may need to be taken apart or recycled. One service Goodwill provides in partnership with Dell is e-waste recycling. They reuse some parts and others they recycle. Dell Reconnect accepts any brand of used computer equipment in any condition. They also accept just about anything that can be connected to a computer. It is not always advertised. You can see where and what your Goodwill and Dell accepts here: http://www.dellreconnect.com/ or http://search.earth911.com/. |