The January Clean Sweep
It’s the week after New Year, that time when the Ghost of Black Friday’s Past comes to haunt our homes. There’s simply too much new stuff mixing with the old stuff, and it’s time to declutter! Because nothing says “New Year, New Me” like a drawer with no single socks in it.
In fact decluttering is a great January activity (idk about you but I’d rather hide in my closet when it’s winter than spring). However, it helps to know there’s an afterlife for our outdated items, so, in the spirit of sustainability, here’s an updated Declutter List with 20 drop spots you can feel good about. Many are retailers who will give you a little gift back too. Have more ideas? Please drop them in our comments below.
Drowning in Denim: Madewell, in partnership with Cotton's Blue Jeans Go Green program, will recycle denim (any brand) into insulation for communities in need. And they'll give you $20 off of a new pair to boot. Note: You can also mail in your old denim for free thanks to Zappos for Good.
Too Many Ts: Marine Layer’s “Re-Spun” program takes beat up t-shirts (any brand), shreds them, combines them with recycled plastic water bottles and sustainable fiber, and makes new t-shirts. Drop off five or more, earn a $25 coupon.
Retail Resale: Gently used Eileen Fisher garments can be returned to the store (160 Main Street). They'll clean them and resell them through their Renew program. Worn-and-torn clothes are transformed into limited-edition designs, like wall hangings, pillows and other accessories.
Not Getting Fleeced: Patagonia will trade in your gently used Patagonia garments for a credit toward another purchase in store, on their website, or on wornwear.com. They’ll also repair your damaged Patagonia items for you.
Throw In Your Towels: Bay State Textiles collects well-worn linens, clothing and shoes at drop spots across CT and Mass, including the Westport Transfer Station, and turns what can’t be reused into wiping cloths and new products like carpet padding.
Re-Run: Fleet Feet collects gently used athletic shoes (adult size 6-11 only). Proceeds from the shoes fund MORE’s Reforestation Initiative, which in turn creates jobs in developing nations, and the One Million Trees project.
A Beautiful Find: L’Occitane has partnered with TerraCycle to recycle cosmetics and skin care products (any brand). Collect the packaging from lip balm tubes, fragrances, deodorant sticks, lotion and soap containers and pumps, and shampoo bottles, and drop them at the store. Receive 10% off a new item.
E-Waste Not: Best Buy is the largest retail recycler of used electronics and appliances and will take all kinds of used tech, regardless of where you bought it. Find out on their website if your item still has value. If so, you can trade it in for a Best Buy gift card.
Paint the Town: Ring’s End collects used (still liquid) paint. This program is funded by a Paintcare fee added to every can sold in CT.
I See/U See: Drop eyeglasses at the drop box at Costco, Walmart , LensCrafters , Lions Club International or ship them to ReSpectacle.
Not Junk: @junkluggers_ffwc any item pickup for a fee (great for larger items) OR @pickup_please a free service, donations go to veterans,
Renovation Discards: Habitat for Humanity ReStore OR Eco Building Bargains, both serve CT and Mass and will pickup your construction discards including furniture, appliances, kitchen cabinets and bathroom fixtures to resell
Your Lulus: Lululemon takes back their athleisure for a gift card
Called Up: Donate old phones to Cell Phones for Soldiers
Household Waste: fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, e-waste, antifreeze and motor oil can go to your local Transfer Station for recycling
In The Bag: plastic bags & plastic film: drop it at the recycling center at Stop & Shop or give to a clerk at Whole Foods
It’s a Wrap: clean bubble wrap & packing peanuts are usually accepted at The UPS Store.
Don’t Eschew Drugs: expired medicine can be safely discarded at your local police station
Expedit: Ikea has a buyback program for eligible Ikea furniture items
More retailers that have buyback programs for old clothes and electronics include: H&M, Apple, The North Face, Target, Nike, Levis, Verizon, REI, Samsung, Office Depot and Uniqulo.
Always consider local schools, daycares and libraries for used books, toys and art supplies, and local shelters and homeless centers for bedding, clothing, warm coats and personal care items for those in need.
If you’re local to Westport, used books, CDs and DVDs can also be donated to the Westport Book Shop, a 501c-3 bookstore.
Still have items that need a new home? When in doubt, don't throw it out. You can look up recycling options for many items by zip code using https://search.earth911.com. And if you know of more locations accepting donations, please drop your ideas in the comments so we can include it in the spring round-up. Happy Winter Cleaning!
