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Alternative Ways to Get Rid of Garbage

Throwing away items when they become useless in your household is wasteful in the extreme. The items you dispose of will probably sit untouched in a landfill somewhere for years. If you are willing to put in a little time and effort, though, you can find creative alternate uses for items you would normally throw in the trash.

  1. Repurpose Containers

    • Old food containers such as jars and canisters can become useful storage tools around your home. A jar can store a variety of foods or other items. You can even dress up the old containers to make them match your home decor. For example, if you turn an old jar into a flower vase, you can paint it to match the color scheme of your home instead of leaving it as it is. Avoid painting containers you repurpose for food storage, though.

    Take Trash to a Recycling Center

    • You can only reuse items in your home so many ways before you run out of ideas. That's when it's time to turn to the recycling professionals to reuse your waste. Check old packages for an indication that they are recyclable. You can also recycle items made from metal and polystyrene if you find a recycling center to accept the waste. (Different recycling centers may accept different types of waste.) Visit your local recycling center regularly to avoid clutter.

    Sell Clutter

    • One man's waste is another man's treasure. If you have excess clutter in your home, hold a garage sale. Allow your friends and neighbors to help take some of the clutter off your hands and earn a little pocket change while you're at it. Keep your prices reasonable, though, for the best chance of moving the merchandise. This means you should resist the urge to mark up the price on items more than a couple of dollars.

    Donate Clutter

    • If you can't sell, repurpose or recycle your clutter, try donating it. Just because you can't find a purpose for it doesn't mean someone else wouldn't appreciate some of your unusable items. Only donate items you think people could actually use and enjoy, though. For example, don't donate a crate full of jars to charitable organizations. Instead, donate things like old clothes, stuffed animals and old appliances. Ensure that any electronics you donate still operate.

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