What to do with all this crap?!?
I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that you, gentle reader – like me, and like Kai – have too much stuff.
Once you’ve sorted and sifted, perhaps with the help of Kai’s Clutter Chronicles, you’re probably left with a pile of things – clothes, books, toys, housewares, CDs – that you just don’t need or use anymore. What do you do with it?
Don’t trash it just yet. Besides the eco-green factor, there are plenty of non-profit organizations out there that can make great use of your unwanted, but still serviceable, possessions. And for some of the stuff that’s broken or obsolete (like old iPods, cell phones and computer equipment), there are good ways to recycle it instead of dumping it your garbage can. And, of course, let’s not forget that your charitable donations can help you reduce your tax bill!
So Who Wants Your Stuff?
(While this list is partly NY-based, there are similar organizations throughout the country – the United War Vets Council, for example, has branches throughout the US)
United War Veterans Council
The United War Veterans Council of NY is a great way to repurpose almost … anything. The Council works to promote and support multiple programs benefiting vets and their families, and according to their site, they accept donations of all kinds of clothing and household goods, from shirts and shoes and wire hangers to books, typewriters, vacuum cleaners, sheets, toasters, golf clubs and rocking chairs. While they have drop-off centers in the greater NY area, you can also schedule a pickup directly online so that representatives will come to your house and do the heavy lifting for you.
What exactly they do with all of this stuff is unclear .. (do they distribute it directly to Veterans and families in need? Do they sell it to some 3rd party and use the funds to help Veterans? I searched around and I still don’t know) … but it’s certainly going to good use. To see The Council’s work in action, check out the annual New York City Veterans Day Parade, which is tomorrow, November 11th!
Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe / Thrift Shop
If you’ve got particularly nice stuff to get rid of (i.e. high-end or designer clothes, shoes, handbags; good furniture) then the Housing Works stores might be just the thing for you. Housing Works is dedicated to supporting HIV/AIDS communities and sponsors a variety of prevention, treatment, housing, legal and health care services. They run a number of thrift shops throughout NYC as well as a bookstore/cafe in Soho, and all their merchandise (except the coffee!) is donated from individuals and corporations.
So this is where to donate the premium denim that doesn’t fit anymore, the handbags from two seasons ago, the super-cute shoes that nearly killed your feet and have been sitting in your closet ever since. (And if you’re in the market for some super-cheap shopping, this is the place to score a deal on $15 Ann Taylor handbags, $30 DVF dresses and Gucci shoes for $50.) And if you’re going digital and are ridding your life of CDs and DVDs, the Housing Works Bookstore/Cafe in Soho will gladly take them (provided they are in decent saleable condition). Same goes for books.
Support The Troops
I am not saying that you should thank our men and women in uniform by mailing them your unwanted junk. (NO.) But whatever your political views, there are probably plenty of things sitting unused in your house or apartment that would be welcomed by groups like Operation: A Bit Of Home, which uses donations to supply Freedom Rest, an R&R facility in Iraq that serves as a sort of 4-day getaway for soldiers that have been under fire or in combat. The military does not supply its soldiers with sanitary products, entertainment, or sporting goods, so OABOH collects things like books and CDs, sports equipment (rackets, balls, gloves, etc), videogames and related components, puzzles, and common hygiene products – we’re talking soaps, shampoos, lotions, makeup, q-tips, cotton balls, and the like.
So for all those makeup and lotion samples you’ve been hoarding in your bathroom? The Gameboy your ex-boyfriend left under the couch? Your ever-expanding collection of hotel soaps? Bingo.
Recycling Electronic Equipment
Computer hardware, cellphone cases and batteries, PDAs, iPods … while they become obsolete within months, they can live on in landfills for centuries. Fortunately, NYC residents have multiple options that are listed here, including manufacturer and retailer take-back programs, schools and agencies that can use older models of equipment, and reuse/recycling centers that will take your gadgets apart and separate them into usable or disposable components. If it’s an iPod you’re looking to get rid of, remember that Apple’s nationwide recycling program will take your old Macs and iPods and dispose of them responsibly. And if you hand in your old iPod to any Apple store, they’ll give you 25% off a new one.
And If It’s Really Just Junk
And it’s just too much to haul to the trash dump, consider 1-800-Got-Junk. This company (which bills itself as The World’s Largest Junk Removal Service) will come to your house or apartment with a truck, fill it up, and take it away. And they will take just about anything – furniture, appliances, garden/yard debris, or discarded materials from a renovation project. They’ll even rent you a dumpster to park in your driveway … now that’s a lot of junk!
