With the release of her recent Netflix documentary, Marie Kondo and her ruthless approach to decluttering are inspiring many to tidy their space and downsize their possessions.

Whilst doing a belongings cull can be cathartic and have many flow-on lifestyle benefits, ultimately it can create a lot of waste. Instead, here’s a list of alternatives to simply throwing out everything that does not ‘spark joy’ (besides donating belongings to already oversaturated op-shop and overfilled charity bins). 

RECYCLE

While Australian infrastructure may not be as extensive as some Nordic countries, rest assured you can recycle more than you realise. Old electronics are a key example, with many of the metals inside mobile phones and computers being very expensive to reproduce. Items like paint, reusable drink bottles, most hard plastics and paper products (think unwanted stationery) can be dropped off to plants or placed in the curbside bin. Make sure to check with your local council for accurate regulations and information.

REGIFT

Just because a gift has not had money spent on it does not make it any less valid. Whilst there is some age-old stigma surrounding passing on unwanted gifts, there is no point in holding onto something unwanted while spending unnecessary money for pride’s sake.

If packaging is unopened and items are not damaged, the gift is in good-as-new condition. If we want to reduce our consumer impact, we can start with rewriting ideas around regifting, especially if it would be well appreciated by the receiver.

REHOME

Chances are there is someone in your local community who could need something on the cusp of being thrown out. Ask around in the family, especially amongst those who are moving into a new place or are younger. That second rice cooker could find a very happy new home!

To broaden the pool of recipients, make sure to check out your local ‘Buy Nothing’ Facebook group, where values of community sharing and slow giving are central. You could also choose to re-sell your goods at places like the Canberra Fashion Market or Canberra Kids Market and make some pocket money while you’re at it.

REPAIR

Gone are the days of sewing together tears and patching up holes where instead we opt for buying something new (and cheap)! If an item is only slightly out of working order, there is likely an easy way to fix it.

With the plethora of video tutorials and step-by-step guides available on the Internet, it can often be simple to get that item back into business. Better yet, keep an eye out for nearby ‘Repair Café’ events and sites, or just ask a family member!

RECONSIDER

At the end of the day, reducing waste comes down to reducing consumption, so it really is important to think through purchases before they are made. If not sure about the choice, sleep on it and evaluate the criteria being used to justify the definition of something as either a ‘need’ or ‘want’ item. If opting for a cheap option that will shortly be unusable, look at better quality options that may be more cost-effective in the long term.