Going Green And Clutter-Free In 3 Steps

How many times have you cleared clutter only to be appalled by the amount of stuff you are contributing to a landfill. Feelings of guilt arise. Between being dismayed by the amount of stuff you have accumulated and the remorse of contaminating Mother Earth, clearing clutter oftentimes becomes a project of procrastination, or worse, a permanent avoidance. If this resonates with feelings you’ve had at some point, then help is on the way—there is no longer an excuse to put off clearing clutter. We will use the Reduce Reuse Recycle mantra as our guide for the best ways to clear clutter and be green.

Reduce

The Number One best thing about clearing clutter is that once it’s gone, once you realize just how much you have accumulated, and once you realize how little you really need, then you are so much less likely to consume as much in the future. Clearing clutter reduces future consumption. In fact, after clearing out your clutter, you will feel so much lighter that you will not want to re-clutter your space. And when you do get the itch for something new, you will be so much more choosy in what you purchase.

Reuse

The second tier of being green is to Reuse. In my book, Feng Shui Your Life: The Quick Guide to Decluttering Your Home and Renewing Your Life, I recommend separating your items into piles: trash, recycling, returns, donation and ‘for sale’ items. Those items designated as donation and/or for sale are actually on their way to being reused. Congratulations! So, take the time to sort these out. For any items that you want to sell for extra cash, then list them on craigslist.com or ebay. If your item(s) doesn’t sell, then your price is too high or it’s ready for either a garage sale or Goodwill.

Garage sales can be a fun way to get rid of a large volume of items that would otherwise take too long to sell online. In just 4 to 6 hours, you can dramatically unload your inventory and make money doing it. Whatever items are left over, pack them up and donate to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or any local charities that accept donated goods. Just make sure that these items are reusable and not items that should be in the next category: recycle. For example, your favorite sneakers from 1988 that have holes and worn-out soles should not be reused!

Freecycle.org is another great way to have your items reused. Just list your item and have someone who needs it come and pick it up for you—no hauling. As they say, one (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure!

Recycle

Now that you have pared down your items to those no longer reusable, it’s time to recycle. So many more items are recyclable than you may think. If you don’t already recycle paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic on a regular basis, then start now. Every major city has recycling centers if they don’t already pick up at your home. Research what services your city or town already offers. You may be surprised.

What about those items that aren’t readily recycled? Earth 9-1-1! That’s right, go to www.earth911.org

Earth911 is your one stop source to finding what you can recycle and where—from mattresses to computer monitors to eyeglasses. Simply search by your zip code. It’s incredibly easy and informative!

So before you throw your stuff in the garbage bin, think about the Reduce Reuse Recycle mantra. With each item consider whether it is reusable and, if not, recyclable. And, before long, you will automatically be reducing. The best thing is that it feels good to be green AND clutter free.

About Tisha. Tisha Morris is a renowned North American designer known for her feng shui design methods for the home using the energy of the environment to develop a space that allows for positive flow and holistic living and to properly align items within your household to create harmony and bliss and help avoid conflict from entering your home. Tisha is the author of multiple books including her most recent titled, Mind Body Home: Transforming Your Life One Room at a Time. For more information on Tisha, please visit www.tishamorris.com