Living Car Free - Re-cycling (related to simplifying)

Suppose you've got a whole bunch of "stuff" ... household items, kitchenware, fake plants, clothing, electronics of various sorts, books, etc. etc. The usual stuff someone might have accumulated in their homes over the years

And suppose you'd like to get rid of a lot of it, but you don't just want to toss it all because much of it is still usable.

What would you do with it?


In my hunt, I've found:

The Restore:
http://www.habitat.ca/restoresc648.php (although I don't think I've got the items they take)

Value Village:
http://www.valuevillage.com/

Salvation Army:
http://www.thriftstore.ca/

MCC:
http://mcc.org/thrift/ (I gave away a whole bunch of my stuff to these people when I was downsizing in 2004)


Do you know of any other recycling stores? Ones that you use, perhaps? What if you wanted to sell a few things?

Incidentally, you can often find bicycles in places like these!! :D

there's always freecycle.org

They've got a pretty cool logo too

http://www.freecycle.org/images/freecycle_logo.jpg

I am surprised you did not come across Goodwill in your search. Goodwill will accept almost anything not toxic. The money they make from reselling stuff goes toward various programs such as helping people with job placement, etc. Also stuff they can't sell at stores is then rotated to other stores, if it still doesn't sell it is sold in bulk, if it still doesn't sell they either donate certain items to third world areas or sell certain things like appliances in large quantities for scrap. So they basically try their best to recycle everything.

For selling stuff: garage sales, craigslist, certain clothing stores like buffalo exchange, etc.

Salvation Army, local missions. We have one called Hope Harbor that uses it's massive thrift store to help fund its mission and employ homeless recovering alcoholic men in the community. There is also Urban Ministry which has several sub sets. Among other things they warehouse and provide household goods to families that have been burned out our lost their the belongings through some other disaster. Then there are a multitude of other church or mission based thrift stores.

Aaron:)

Ours mostly goes to Goodwill. (From what I've read, they have less administrative overhead than Value Village, and my personal preference is to support a secular charity instead of the Sally Ann.) Also, my boyfriend's mother volunteers at a centre for teen mothers in need, so a lot of stuff goes there too.

We just got rid of a bunch of stuff because we moved in together in the spring, so I know whereof I speak.

Yes, I forgot about Goodwill. I'm not sure if my city has one, but one of the neighboring cities must.

http://www.goodwill.org/page/guest/about


What about places to get rid of old computers and things like that ... old, but still functioning? I've heard of programs where people can give old computers to community centres or schools etc., but didn't make note of them at the time.

eBay (http://www.ebay.ca)

eBay (http://www.ebay.ca)

But don't you have to deal with paypal if you do anything with eBay?

What if you wanted to sell a few things?


Craiglist seems to be the best way to sell some things. Also, if you are trying to sell books, usually second hand bookshops will help you.


If you can't sell...
You can also just leave items on the curb -- at least for a day or so. It's surprising what people will find useful.

If you can't sell...
You can also just leave items on the curb -- at least for a day or so. It's surprising what people will find useful.

+1 Someone will pick up the stuff and sell it some where.

Simplify, man! Have a yard sale!

But don't you have to deal with paypal if you do anything with eBay?

No. What form of payment you accept is up to you. You can specify certified check, or even local pick up and cash if you prefer. PayPal is instantaneous, which is nice and easy, especially for international transactions.

I made about $5000 on eBay selling off things I was no longer using.

I've been trying to do this with my extra old clothes but I've been told that my stuff is too worn, torn, or patched for thrift stores to want it (still clean though). I recall Thoreau joking about this problem in Walden when he said that the poor wouldn't accept his charity because they didn't want to live as simply as he did.

I can't bring myself to throw the clothes away but I don't want to store all this extra stuff. I'd keep wearing them but my family gives me some clothing at holidays during the year so I'm constantly accumulating. What are some of your solutions to when something, not necessarily clothes, is too beat up for even thrift stores?

Machka, I hope this is on topic enough!

Play It Again Sports

Sporting goods resale company. They dont deal in bikes though.

You could try a consignment auction--probably best if you're not overly concerned with the financial return but more focused on making sure your things sell.

Just stay away on auction day, though, if you're tempted by cheap things you don't need. A relative of mine (I shall respect his anonymity) recently came home from a household auction with 11 cuckoo clocks.:eek:

What are some of your solutions to when something, not necessarily clothes, is too beat up for even thrift stores?


If it's clothing, it becomes a bike shop rag, obviously. :thumb:

If it's clothing, it becomes a bike shop rag, obviously. :thumb:

I was considering that. At first I wasn't sold but suddenly cleaning my chain with underpants sounds fantastic!

My miniscule contribution to this thread-> You could donat household items to local punk-houses/collectives.

Yup, our old shirts, undies, etc. go into the rag bag under the sink. They can then be torn into little pieces and used as cleaning rags, and they wash and dry in the regular laundry much better than sponges do.

I've been doing a bit more research and I've found a place to recycle my electronics stuff!! The first link is for more than just electronics ... it's for all sorts of rather difficult things to recycle.

http://www.albertarecycling.ca/
http://www.recycle-logic.com/