Don’t let eco guilt trash your decluttering progress
I don’t agree with a lot of the standard rhetoric around eco-friendly living. It seems designed to make you feel enormously guilty about the mistakes you’ve made with your past purchases. (You bought Ziplock bags instead of reusable silicone ones? Jail for one thousand years!)Â
This article is about sustainable decluttering tips, and I encourage you to do it if you can. But don’t let this be the thing that holds you back from making space for yourself and the life you want to live.
I’m tempted to go on a tirade about corporations shifting the responsibility for environmental issues onto consumers. I’m just going to drop this infographic below and move on. You’re here to learn how to declutter responsibly, not read my manifesto.Â
Stop beating yourself up about not decluttering perfectly when there are corporations out here polluting like it’s their full-time jobs. Sources: SEI, The Guardian, Climate Accountability, Earth.org
And now onto the real reason you’re here: Ideas for decluttering in an eco-friendly way.
Decluttering without waste: 6 eco-friendly ways to let go
Now that we’ve tackled the mindset piece, let’s talk about what to actually do with your clutter.
While tossing everything in the trash is the easiest route, it’s also the least eco-friendly. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to responsibly offload your stuff without adding to landfill waste.
1. Upcycle
Credit: DIYInspired (click link for tutorial)
This is my favorite category of sustainable decluttering tips. I love looking at a piece of junk in a new light and finding creative ways to reuse it.
Upcycling doesn’t have to be complicated or Pinterest-perfect. Stained shirt = cleaning rag. Simple.
A few other easy ideas:
- Glass jars = drinking glasses, storage for bulk pantry items, vases, or DIY candles
- Old towels = pet bedding (one of Ava Jean’s favorite spots is a perch with a folded up towel on it) or cut into smaller pieces for reusable cleaning cloths
- Mismatched or chipped mugs = cute plant pots or desk organizers
- Broken picture frames = repurposed into decorative trays or earring holders
The best part? Upcycling saves money, keeps things out of landfills, and adds a personal touch to your space. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about using your creativity to make something useful that you didn’t have to buy.
2. Recycle
Recycling gets tricky because not everything can just be tossed in the blue bin and magically turned into something new. (If only.) But with a little effort, you can keep a surprising number of things out of the landfill.
Check local rules and programs
First, check your local recycling guidelines. Every city has its own rules, and you don’t want your good intentions to end up as sorting center headaches.
Beyond curbside pickup, many communities have specialty recycling programs for things like electronics, batteries, light bulbs, and even old sneakers.
Some stores (like electronics retailers and office supply chains) also have drop-off bins for specific items, so it’s worth checking.
Use a free mail-in recycling program
If you’re dealing with something that seems like it should be recyclable but isn’t accepted locally, TerraCycle is a great option. TerraCycle partners with brands to offer free recycling programs for hard-to-recycle items like beauty packaging, snack wrappers, and even home healthcare products.
Their process is simple: collect accepted items, print a prepaid shipping label, and send them off to be properly recycled. They also offer paid Zero Waste Boxes for even more recycling options.
Try a specialty recycling service
Another option, if your budget allows, is Ridwell. This subscription service collects hard-to-recycle items straight from your doorstep for $18/month.
They provide a bin that you fill with things like plastic film, batteries, clear plastic clamshell containers, and textiles. For an additional fee, they’ll also take things like Styrofoam and fluorescent lights.
Recycling isn’t the perfect solution—reducing and reusing are still the MVPs of sustainable decluttering tips—but when done right, it helps keep useful materials in circulation and out of landfills.
3. Compost
Most of your decluttered items won’t be compostable, but for things made from natural materials, composting is an eco-friendly way to say goodbye. Instead of sitting in a landfill, these materials can break down naturally and return to the earth.
Natural fibers like 100% cotton, linen, wool, hemp, and uncoated paper products (like paper towels or cardboard) are all compostable as long as they’re free from synthetic blends, dyes, or chemical coatings.
Not sure whether something can be composted, like a blurry photo you printed at home? When in doubt, leave it out. Adding the wrong materials can contaminate the compost. Stick to the basics, and you’ll be keeping waste out of landfills in the best way possible.
4. Donate
Thrift stores tend to be the first eco-friendly option people think about when it’s time to get rid of the clutter. It is a fantastic option for gently used items that still have life left in them.
However, if you donate decluttered items that are stained, broken, missing pieces, or in bad shape, your items are still going to end up in the trash.
A good question to help you decide if something is worth donating is this: Would you give this item, as is, to a friend or family member?
If the answer is yes, then the thrift store will likely be happy to have it. If the answer is no, it’s time to consider other sustainable decluttering tips like recycling or upcycling.
And, of course, there’s the “throw it away” option. It’s not eco-friendly, but the reality is that some items are just trash. If you consider all the sustainable options first, you’ll minimize the amount of items that end up in the landfill when you declutter.
5. Community Swaps
In my apartment complex, we have an unofficial “free table” in the laundry room. If you have something usable you don’t need, you drop it on the free table, and someone else scoops it up.Â
If you live in an apartment building, you can start something similar by placing your items neatly in a shared area with a simple “free” sign. It will likely become a regular thing, because people like to be helpful to their neighbors.
You can also look for local groups hosting community swaps. They’re usually themed, like a clothing swap or hobby swap. Or just have a swap with your friends.
The Buy Nothing Project is another great option. Tons of cities have dedicated Buy Nothing Facebook groups you can post to, and there’s an app. You post what you’re trying to get rid of, and someone else who needs or wants that thing gets it without having to buy it.
It’s a double whammy of sustainable decluttering because it prevents waste and unnecessary consumption.
6. Sell Using Online Marketplaces
Selling your items on online platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or OfferUp can be a great way to make some cash. But it can also be really annoying.
When my partner and I downsized for our cross-country move, we needed some extra money to offset moving costs. We sold as much stuff a possible, from obvious things like furniture to random stuff like a huge bag of markers and pens (an extremely excited teacher bought that from me for $5. It was adorable).
We made about $1,200. It was tremendously helpful for our moving expenses, but the process stressed me out, pissed me off, and even scared me a couple times.
If you want to sell your stuff, keep these things in mind:
- People will flake. They’ll agree to a time, then disappear. Expect it.
- Lowball offers are inevitable. Some will ask for (or even demand) freebies. Others will offer $5 for a $50 item.
- Logistics get messy. Keeping track of who’s buying what, how they’re paying, and when you’re meeting up can feel like a full-time job.
- Safety first. Meet in a public place when you can. If a buyer must come to your home for a large item, always have someone there with you.
I know what it’s like to need money, so I completely understand if you still want to go this route. But if you can afford to donate or recycle it instead of selling it, I recommend doing that. Aside from saving yourself the stress, it also means you get the clutter out of your house faster.
Progress over perfection: Declutter in the best way you can
The sustainable decluttering tips I shared will help you make the best choices you can with the physical, emotional, and financial resources you have. One small step, whether it’s dropping off a donation, posting something in a local free group, or learning about a new recycling option, is still progress.
So start where you are. Do what you can. Every step toward a more intentional space is a step in the right direction.
If you’re not sure how to get started, download my free Quickstart Decluttering Guide. It has step-by-step directions on how to build the confidence and momentum you need to clear the clutter.
