Don’t throw your stuff away! Recycle it!
> We all have too many clothes! Don’t put them in the trash when you have worn them out or, worse, when you are simply tired of them. Have a yard sale, take them to a second-hand store, donate them to a church, shelter or needy neighbors, or start a freebox at your neighborhood recycling center. I know a woman who pulls jeans out of our freebox and uses the pockets on recycled cloth journal covers that she makes and sells.
> Do you have stacks of magazines laying around? I do! Again, the second hand store is your friend for books and magazines. Our library takes donations, uses what they can, then puts the books in a little store as a fundraiser. Magazines are freebies on a table in the lobby. School art departments, day care centers and camps may take magazine donations for collage projects. Schools may want to beef up their libraries with your books.
> There are online solutions to your real-time junk problem. Try craigslist to sell locally. It’s free, as is Freecycle. Find your local chapter or start one. Ebay is great for larger sales, since there are fees involved whether you sell your item or not. You also have a worldwide audience. Our radio station has a 30 minute show each morning called Trash & Treasures, when listeners call in with items for sale. I have used this to sell everything from cars to beads. See if there is something like that in your community.
Don’t be afraid to start some recycling programs in your city! It may take a bit of footwork, but will be worth it for everyone.
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