Too Much Stuff!

Next time you clean your room, think about all the STUFF you have! How much do you really need? If you have too much, here are some GREEN ideas for what to do with all those old toys, books, clothes, and more!

Books: Reuse! Stop by your local library and ask about book collection programs. Many schools and libraries will take donations or help you find a place to send your used books.

School papers: Recycle those old notes and tests, but ask your teacher first to make sure you don’t need them anymore. *Reuse* blank pages from the backs of old notebooks by tearing the pages out and stapling them back together (don’t forget to design a cover!) for a cool homemade notepad.

Makeup and toiletries: Reduce waste by combining all unwanted extra powders, lotions, creams, nail polish, etc. into one sealed, non-recyclable container to throw away. Do not flush or pour any makeup products down the drain! *Recycle* clean, empty containers. (It’s okay to wash out a little bit of leftover makeup.)

Stuffed animals and toys: Reuse by donating to programs like Toys for Tots. Find a place near you to drop off your stuffed animals for Toys for Tots.

Clothes: Reuse clean clothes in good condition by donating to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Or, if you're really crafty, you can make quilt squares out of old tee-shirts, tops, and pants for a funky quilt! You might want to save cool fabrics to sew together into a quilt someday.

Shoes: Reuse Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program takes athletic shoes and turns them into what they call “Nike Grind” -- tiny bits of rubber, fabric, and foam separated and then used in different building projects. The rubber Grind from about 2,500 pairs of shoes can go into a new outdoor basketball court or playground! If your shoes still look nice, you can donate them to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.

If you STILL have too much stuff, organize a yard sale! One girl’s trash is another girl’s treasure, right? Take a look at all your reduce, reuse, recycle options before throwing things away in a trash bag headed for a landfill. Every little bit helps our planet!