Now that we are getting closer to the fall and winter months, its time to start thinking of getting rid of our unused/valuable items. I like to call this stuff S.H.I.T which is the stuff in our lives that have no meaning today. Rather than throwing away these things thus sending them to the landfill, you can donate them to organizations that actually need them. That way, you can do the environment, your space, and other people a great service. Here are the three groups of clutter that you can let others have:
1) DRY GOODS GROUP: CLOTHES AND BOOKS
Check your closet for any clothes you think you no longer need. For those you don’t want try donating them to the Houston group of Freecycle.org, a non-profit organization full of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and keeping good stuff out of landfills.
But used garments aren’t the only ones you can donate to Freecycle.org. They also accept books you no longer need as well as other things from the home. They are all about making sure that everything posted must be free, legal and appropriate for all ages
2) E-WASTE GROUP: BATTERIES, PHONE, COMPUTERS AND TV
Used batteries, broken phones, old TV sets, and computers not only take up space in your rooms. These electronic wastes (e-waste) also take up 2% of America’s landfill space. Thus, it would be better to give them away to organizations that can still use them.
The organization Battery Solution accepts batteries from anywhere within the US. You can mail them boxes of old batteries even if you live in Houston. There are also Ikea stores in Houston where you can bring your batteries for recycling. The Houston City Government itself also accepts used batteries, and you can even take your battery waste to any Environmental Service Center near you.
If you also have broken phones to give away, you can download Verizon’s HopeLine app to find the nearest Verizon store in your area and drop off your broken phones at those stores. Verizon will repair these phones and donate them to organizations who help out victims of domestic violence and abuse. But before you donate your broken phone, remember to clear it of any personal data such as numbers, pictures, notes, and messages.
You may not know it, but most states honor the take-back law which let residents return broken or old TV sets and computers to their manufacturers after they’ve been used. They were designed to keep bulky or toxic products and packaging out of the waste stream. In fact, you can send these items to the manufacturers via courier at no cost! Just search for the manufacturer’s address and mail it to them. As with recycling cellphones, you have to ensure that you have wiped your computer clean of personal information.
3) BULKY ITEMS GROUP: USED FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT AND CARS
Houston’s six Neighborhood Depository/Recycling Centers only accept bulky wastes every February, April, June, August, October, and December. But you don’t have to relegate sports equipment, kitchen cabinets, furniture, and torn upholstery chairs to the landfill. You can repurpose these items to hold other knick-knacks that take up space in your home.
If you can’t wait for the bulky waste disposal month or you have no idea on how to repurpose your bulky items, you can donate them to the Houston Furniture Bank or the Charity Guild of Catholic Women. You can also refurbish these materials and sell them at a yard sale.
Free up garage space by letting go of your old car. The American Red Cross, Houston Habitat for Humanity, and the Car Donation Foundation are all willing to receive used cars. But before you give them your vehicle, clean its interior first and remove any coins, jewelry, papers, receipts, and other items that you left there.
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If you’re looking for a decluttering service to help organize your home or office, Rescue My Space is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!