Trim Your Waste
Reuse
- one person's trash is another person's treasure
Reusing is a way of keeping items out of the landfill longer by extending their useful life. Try these reuse strategies:
- Buy for quality, and maintain and repair the items you do buy.
- Reuse plastic tubs and glass jars as storage containers.
- Be creative! You can cut up old greeting cards to make gift tags
or decorate packages. Use the back of your children’s artwork to send
a letter to Grandma. Ditch wrapping paper, and try using newsprint instead
(the funny pages are great). For fun re-use crafts and projects, visit
www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling. - Reuse bread bags for food storage, or take them along to clean up when walking your dog.
- Reuse the other side of papers at work and at home.
- Reuse envelopes as shopping lists, and keep your coupons inside.
- Take a reusable lunch bag or box. Use a washable Tupperware instead of disposable baggies.
- Donate unwanted toys, books, clothes, and household items:
Animal Welfare League Thrift Store 323.9223 Goodwill Industries 324.8638 St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Center 325.9111 Nearly New Shop 323.9345 - Consider hosting a closet party, where you invite friends to bring unwanted clothes, shoes, and accessories and everyone can trade for “new” items. The same idea works for kitchen parties, garden parties, kiddies’ toy parties…
Habitat for Humanity
The Clark County Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a store which accepts donated building material and home furnishings and also offers them for sale at discounted prices. Many, many good-condition items are accepted, including everything from lighting fixtures and ceiling fans to sinks, counter-tops, plumbing supplies, and roofing. You may also donate new carpet, cabinets, tools, and so much more. The ReStore is located at 14 E. North Street, Springfield, OH, 45502. For more information, you can call 937.325.9710 or visit them on the web at www.ClarkCountyHabitatRestore.com
Home Again General Store
Home Again General Store is a great second-hand store in Springfield that actually buys unwanted items from their customers to sell in the store. They accept nearly all “gently-used” home goods and will pay for them. Accepted items include tools, home décor, kitchenware including pots and pans and Tupperware, baskets, brass and copper pieces, aquariums and other pet supplies, knick-knacks, furniture, working appliances, and much, much more. The store is located in the Park Shopping Center at 1115 N. Bechtle Avenue. For more details, call 937.325.HOME or visit them on the web at www.homeagaingeneralstore.com
Freecycle.org
The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,779 groups with 7,079,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free. To sign up, go to the freecycle site here: freecycle.org