Rubbish Collection

This week we received our Inorganic Rubbish Collection pamphlet in the post. I have read it pretty thoroughly and seriously there are so many rules.

It would seem the days of leaving your unwanted ‘stuff’ on the kerb is OVER as now you can incur a fine. This really frustrates me.

I am really anti rubbish cluttering up our landfill so if people can take things and recycle them or fix them up then that really works for me. I love the fact that people used to drive around in their cars, vans and even trucks pillaging people's unwanted goodies.

Unfortunately, I think we live in a disposable society. So when things break it is often easier (and cheaper) to buy a new one rather than get the old one fixed.

So I believe that there are other ways you can reduce the amount of 'stuff' going into our landfills.

Reuse – recycle - reduce

Sort your unwanted ‘stuff’ into piles

Trade Me/Garage Sale – if you need money (and do not need to get rid of you things quickly) and have some good quality ‘stuff’ then listing things on Trade Me or holding a garage sale is a cool idea. I am constantly amazed at the sort of things that sell really well i.e. baby stuff, clothes, exercise equipment, DVDs, computers, books, appliances etc. Sell things in bulk lots if it is easier…i.e. 0-3 months baby clothes, chick-lit novels etc.

Freecycle – if you just want things gone quickly and you do not mind giving them away then Freecycle is for you! Sort out the good ‘stuff’ that people could use but may not want to pay for i.e. books, photo frames, office stuff, furniture, appliances, old magazines, plants, televisions, gaming consoles, glass jars with lids etc.

Hospice, Salvation Army, City Mission – good quality goods i.e. clothing, books etc. can be donated to charities. Do not give them rubbish as it is not fair to them to have to dispose of it i.e. stained t-shirts, old undies etc. can be cut up and used for cleaning rags around the house. We have even torn up old t-shirts to tie up plants in our garden.

Hazardous materials – paint, batteries, chemicals etc. can be taken to Hazardous materials collections. You can probably contact your local council to find out where the nearest one is.

Rubbish – Lastly you should be left with rubbish so recycle what you can in your fortnightly collection and then trash the rest.

What are your suggestions for reducing the amount of things that go into our landfills etc.?

Freecycle

Yesterday I wrote a blog about Spring Cleaning and Decluttering. I got some great suggestions as a result and two comments that both mentioned that it is good for your soul; which I absolutely agree with.

Lauren has been finding 15 things per week to sell or donate. Pauline has just finished tackling her pantry. Teena has sorted her daughter’s room and the hall cupboard. It seems that people have the decluttering “bug”.

Then last night my whole world changed! Kat mentioned that I take a look at Freecycle. Now I had heard of Freecycle before, but I had never really looked at it.

I went on and signed up immediately. Next to Pinterest this could be my next obsession! I have been a member for less than 24 hours and found homes for:

Two Queen sized duvet inners

A Metal filing tray

2 x books

62 empty DVD cases (from work)

Assorted Stationery “stuff”

Pet bowls, blankets and a basket

A stack of reusable shopping bags

I am completely addicted to it. The pile to list on Freecycle is growing and the pile to sell on Trade Me is decreasing. I have told my friends about it and phoned my husband twice; I do not think he gets why I am beyond excited. Raewyn and Pauline are both now fired up and excited about it as well.

Freecycle speaks to me because it is about community, about gifting items to other people in your community and ultimately reducing the amount of waste that goes into our landfills. This is why I totally support people going through inorganic collections on the side of the road. If someone can use something that others have thrown away then I support that 100%.

Their mission statement is simple “Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.

So, what are you waiting for; get decluttering and “Freecycling” people…you will be amazed at how good it makes you feel.

Spring Cleaning and Decluttering

 

I have been thinking about spring cleaning our house for a few weeks now and I have procrastinated about getting started. So my intended method of attack is to declutter and clean out cupboards and draws first and then go through the whole house and wash walls and skirting’s, vacuum, mop and wash the windows. The worst thing is that I often want to clean at the most inopportune times i.e. midnight; rather than at a normal hour.

I wanted to start at one end of the house and go through room by room. I have now nearly finished the kitchen and have managed to fill two banana boxes full of stuff to sell/get rid of and things that do not belong in the kitchen. I have 5 cupboards left in the kitchen and then I just need to wash down all the outside of the cupboards and do the benches. At some stage I need to do the oven, but that might have to wait until the weekend.I have included some before (photos on left) and after (photos on right) to show you my pantry and second draw of shame. The pantry looked like I had just gone shopping and thrown the food onto the shelf.

Then I will move onto the dining area and lounge. There is a bit that could go from the lounge including DVD’s and CD’s we do not want and also some other bits and pieces.  The hall is pretty basic and just needs a painting hung and the walls washed and touched up with paint. Oh blast….and the hall cupboard needs to be cleared out to make more space for storage.

The bathroom is pretty much completed as I did the cupboard and draw a few weeks ago. So all it really needs is the walls and ceiling wiped down.

The bedrooms are a little bit more complex and I think that I might leave them until last as there are quite a few draws and two wardrobes to sort out. The spare room cupboard is completely packed to the gunnels with so much stuff and I am cringing just thinking about it.

The study seems to be the “holding” zone for everything that has been removed from the rest of the house. I need to go through my books one last time, then sort and file our paperwork and finally clear out the cupboards of unnecessary stuff.  

Honestly, I cannot believe how much “stuff” we have accumulated over the years. I do sort things often, but seriously it just keeps creeping back in. I hate taking things to the dump, so I would rather items find a new home where they will be loved and used instead of sitting unused in the back of a cupboard.

Also, there are things that Mark will not let me get rid of that I hate, so I just have to find better places to put them. I do have a process of dealing with this and I will often say to him “do you want to keep item 1 or item 2” knowing full well that he will never, ever part with item 2. It is naughty, but it seems to work.

I think I might have to write a list to keep myself on task. So the plan for the long weekend is:

1. Finish the kitchen

2. Sort out the “stuff” into three piles 1. Give Away. 2. Sell on Trade Me and 3. Throw away.

3. List things on Trade Me

4. Start (and finish) the rest of the house Lounge, Hall, Bedrooms (sigh) and study

5. Mark to wash the walls and ceiling in bathroom and to do all the “touch” up painting

6. Wash windows inside and out

Are you spring cleaning or decluttering?  What is your process?