How to Sustainably Declutter

I am not a minimalist, and this article is not targeted towards minimalists. The information and ideas I am providing are meant for anyone who has stuff that they don’t use or stuff that doesn’t make them happy. But most importantly, this article is for people who want to declutter but don’t want to make waste. Sustainability and accountability are important!

There are many ways to reduce your clutter (and clear your mind) without contributing to landfills. This article will tell you how to sustainably declutter based on category. If you have any ideas that are not listed, please share them in the comments!

(Also keep in mind that you can always ask friends and family if they want an item first!)

BOOKS

1. Sell on Depop, Ebay, or another resale site. You are not likely to profit much through the sale of books, but you will be giving them new homes in which they will be read and loved. (Helpful hint: when listing a book, include the ISBN number in the description. It makes your listing more searchable. This is especially helpful for textbooks!)
2. Use a book buyback program. There are many programs that will send you a free label and pay for you to send them your books. The only downfall is that they don’t pay well. However, most of these sites pay more for textbooks than novels. Though you won’t be offered near the amount you paid for a new textbook, it is better than nothing. Textbooks are hard to sell and receiving $15 for a book you originally paid $200 for is better than it collecting dust.
3. Find a Free Little Library or sharing library. These are so fun. If your books don’t sell, drop them off at a Free Little Library near you. While you are there, you can pick up another book at no cost!

CLOTHES, SHOES, AND ACCESSORIES

1. Sell on resale sites like Depop. There are always people willing to pay for unique pieces on these apps, so selling clothing can be a lot more profitable than selling books. This is proven by the fact that there are plenty of sellers on Depop that make a full-time living on the app. What’s more, you can have your buyer pay for shipping, so there is no chance of you losing money.
2. Donate to a thrift store or charity shop (or the family down the road). This is the most obvious solution to parting with the clothes you no longer wear. If you don’t want to bother with selling, this is a good alternative. Additionally, if you know a person or family who would be grateful for your clothes, you could always ask them first (so long as they wouldn’t take offense to the gesture).
3. Repurpose damaged or worn-thin clothes as rags for housecleaning. It’s easy. Cut up an old tee shirt, for example, into small squares (or whatever shape). Keep them on hand for cleaning up spills, dusting your bookcase, or anything. And you don’t have to save them afterwards. Using them one time and then throwing them away is better than nothing.

FURNITURE AND HOME DECOR

1. Sell on Facebook Marketplace or VarageSale. The nice thing about these sites are that you don’t have to deliver the furniture. You can specify that you’ll conduct a porch-pickup or meet the buyer at a mutual location.
2. Set outside you home for cheap or free. As long as you feel comfortable, and have a place to do it, simply set your piece of furniture outside with a homemade cardboard sign. This would be perfect for items that you want rid of quickly or items that are slightly damaged. There are plenty of people who know how to repair and repurpose.

TRINKETS AND COLLECTIBLES

1. Give trinkets to friends and family or repurpose as gifts. If you’ve ever had a friend admire something of yours of which you no longer want/need, give it to them. You already know it will be a gift they’ll appreciate.
2. If items have a greater value, consider selling on Ebay. Ebay is also good for researching the value of your items. You can simply snap a photo, and see how much they are selling for.

FOOD

1. Challenge yourself to make a meal or sweet treat out of the food you already have. Recently, I had a bag of raisins that was about to expire. I wasn’t eating them as they were, so I made them into chocolate-covered raisin clusters. Though it is a very simple process, I had never thought to make my own before. And it was so much cheaper than buying them from the store.
2. Give to friends who you think may use the food item. Or, if you want to go the extra step, bake them something with it. Say you have a pie crust mix that needs used, and you know of a friend who loves blueberry pie, make them one!
3. For larger quantities of foodstuff, donate to a local food bank. I recommend calling beforehand to ensure sure they are accepting donations, and so you know when and how to drop off the food.

Helpful Tips

• When selling online, reuse boxes from items you have previously purchased. AND you can even ask friends, family, and businesses if they have empty boxes they want rid of! 
• Use up what you have and then don’t replace it if you don’t love it / it is not essential
• Recycle plastics, cardboard, glass, paper, etc.

If you get rid of your things using these methods, you are a lot less likely to feel guilty for parting with all your stuff. You will be giving them a second chance at life.