“Most of the environmental issues we see today can be linked to consumption,” said Gary Gardner, director of research for Worldwatch. ~National Geographic
Our materialistic economy has completely changed the landscape of our lives. Commercials are constantly bombarding us with messages influencing us to “Buy, buy, and buy some more!” Millions of jobs depend on consumers to keep purchasing more “stuff,” whether they need it or not.
And then, because of our habits of excessive purchasing, we become stuff collectors. Our garages and closets are full of items that are perfectly good that we don’t need, but can’t bring ourselves to throw away. Companies like Public Storage have popped up on every other corner, so people can keep their stuff but don’t have to have it taking up space in their home.
If you want to de-stuff yourself responsibly, there are numerous possibilities in the Twin Cities area. Craigslist is a free website where you can sell or give away almost anything in good condition that you want to get rid of. Freecycle is a network where you can list your items to give away–everything here has to be free. For both of these, you typically ask the recipient or buyer to come pick up the item. If you are willing to drop your items off, you can choose from local charities such as the Goodwill or Salvation Army and get a tax deduction out of the deal, as well.
Many products, however, are made so cheaply that they don’t last. When an item breaks, it has become easier and more acceptable to simply throw it away and replace it with the lastest version rather than repairing it. An incredible amount of money is spent on marketing designed to create a desire for the new and supposedly improved products coming out, and for the latest and greatest gadgets and gear.
But what happens at the end of the life cycle of these products? We throw them away and load them up in our own trash container at the end of the driveway. The waste specialists pick up our trash and take it away, and we don’t have to give it another thought. Multiply this by the hundreds of thousands of people in each city, however, and the impact is huge.
I came across this clever little movie called The Story of Stuff. I’d encourage you to watch it if you have a few minutes. It’s amazing. I hadn’t thought about all the ways that my stuff affects the world around me. We have a virtual epidemic of “stuff”! The facts won’t change, so we must.
Tags: eco-living, Environmentalism, green living, recycle
4 Comments
Juliana,
I love the “Story of Stuff,” I want everyone I know to watch it. She lays it out so well.
Juliana– Wow! I just watched the “Story of Stuff.” What a wonderful short video for everyone to see. The website is also full of many resources. Thanks for the post!
I wonder if people are only willing to use stuff for so long, and would rather purchase a newer version of the same rather than recycle or reuse their current stuff in a new fashion?
> When an item breaks, it has become easier and more acceptable to simply throw it away
> and replace it with the lastest version rather than repairing it.
Exactly. I am specifically thinking of computers here — people all too often think, “My computer is broke, I need a new one!” rather than get the individual part fixed or the Operating System reinstalled, or even install and learn Linux which is a Free OS that can run well on older hardware… rather than waste more electronic gear which is still very usable by those who care enough to try.
Good point lefty. I love reusing and recycling stuff.