10/03/2020
HOW TO DOWNSIZE ENVIRONMENTALLY
By Sarah Crewdson
Do you ever wonder how you or your loved ones can successfully move into a smaller home without all your unwanted items going to landfill? Here are a few tips on where to get rid of your unwanted belongings (whilst being kind to the environment!)
Old Furniture: This one can be tricky. Charities have strict rules about what they can and cannot take. If you have good quality furniture; couches, chairs etc. that are all in good condition (without any rips in the fabric) then you can take these to charities such as Vinnies or The Salvation Army. There are also pages dedicated to giving away free items. If you would prefer to sell your furniture, Gumtree or Facebook are good places to start, or why not a good old fashioned garage sale?
Mattresses: Fear not about old mattresses – these can now be recycled. Did you know that up to 75% of mattress parts are recycled into other usable products? There are 2 drop off points in Canberra; Hume and Chifley. Dropping-off is a cheaper option, however if you can’t get your old mattress into your car, there is a pick up service available for your convenience. Prices range between $30- $50.
Towels: I don’t know about you, but I when I move - I always end up with bags of old towels I don’t want anymore~ but they aren’t in good enough condition to give away. The solution to this problem is to donate them to Vets Clinics or wildlife centres. They are always in need.
Crockery: If you have interesting pieces, full sets of dinnerware etc. Vintage stores such as Down Memory Lane may be interested in buying them. Or you can donate the items to Charity stores or sell them through Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.
Electronic Items: If you’re not taking the item to your new home – then you can dispose of your electronics (such as Computers and Televisions) sustainably. E-waste can be dropped to either Domayne or Harvey Norman in Canberra or look up: https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/television-and-computer-recycling-scheme/drop-off-points for alternative solutions. The Green shed will take large items such as fridges or washing machines, and again these can also be sold through Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace.
Vases: Hospitals or Retirement Homes will take unwanted vases.
Books, Magazines and Puzzles: Unwanted books and puzzles can be donated to Lifeline. Every year they have a large book sale and are always looking for stock. Hospitals and schools will take these as well, just as long as they are in good condition.
Stationery: Old stationery that is good quality and in good condition can be offered to Schools.
Clothing: As you may be aware, charities are at saturation point with clothing. So what can be done with unwanted clothes? There are many options. If you have some very cool vintage pieces, several vintage shops in Fyshwick may take them – such as Down Memory Lane or Designer Op Shop. Another option (if the clothes are good quality) is Material Pleasures. If you have clothes that are of questionable quality, H&M have a recycling programme for unwanted clothing. They take all brands in all conditions and none of it ends up in landfill, which is much nicer on the environment. But what about sentimental clothing - such as your kids baby clothes or parents clothes that invoke special memories? I recommend you should consider sending these items to a quilter to make a gorgeous quilt for the bed.
Of course, all these tasks and disposal methods are time consuming and can be tricky if you don’t drive or don’t have access to a large enough vehicle. The Bear that Cares can assist with all of this. From the moment you decide to downsize, the friendly team at The Bear that Cares can work closely with you to sort out and responsibly dispose of your unwanted items. If you need more information about what we do and how we can help save you the hassle of downsizing - call Sarah on 0416 288 824 for a friendly chat.
