Cleaning out your home? How to keep your junk out of the landfill.
Overview
Decluttering responsibly can reduce your environmental impact because sending items to landfills increases methane pollution and waste. Instead of throwing things away, consider donating locally, selling items online, using gifting networks or properly disposing of hazardous materials and excess food. By reusing, sharing and recycling thoughtfully, you can clear clutter while helping your community and protecting the planet.
Do you have a lot of unwanted junk?
The more junk that ends up in a landfill, the bigger its environmental footprint. Garbage dumps are the third-largest source of climate-harming methane pollution, not to mention water pollution.
Rather than toss it all in the trash, try these six eco-friendly ways to get rid of the things you don’t need:
1. Pay it forward
All those rubber bands you liberated from the junk drawer? Egg sellers at the farmers market, your local librarian or the office at your kids’ school will thank you for them.
The dress-up clothes you no longer use at your new, remote gig can help out under-resourced job seekers through Dress for Success and 100 Suits.
Books you’ve already read would make someone very happy at a Little Free Library, a freestanding give/take community bookshelf on a street near you.
And, of course, thrift shops accept re-sellable items to support their missions, making this tip a win for giver and seller alike.
2. Have a yard sale
One person's trash is someone else’s treasure.
You can go old-school and set out your wares on your stoop or driveway or look to the internet to get rid of them.
Websites that list local sales include Garage Sale Finder and Garage Sales by Map, while online retailers can help you sell your unwanted things so they don't end up in the trash. Don’t know where to start? Try one of these sites:
3. Give it away
There is almost no end to the stuff people will be happy to take off your hands. A 2021 New York Times article reported that a gallon of pickle juice once made its way from one Big Apple resident to another through a local Buy Nothing group, an online community where people give and get stuff from their neighbors gratis. Find your local group on Facebook. Not on Facebook? Freecycle works similarly.
As Winston Churchill aptly said, “We make a life by what we give.”
4. Take care with hazardous household waste
Paint, pesticides, motor oil, cleaning products: Many household items like these are toxic, corrosive or flammable. First, try to give away anything you don’t need. (See above.)
Then, take advantage of the recycling programs offered by large retailers such as:
Many of them take electronics, lightbulbs, car batteries and more.
Finally, check with your local sanitation department for rules and regulations for disposing of hazardous household waste. Many host disposal events or offer drop-off sites where you can get rid of hazardous waste safely.
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5. Don’t trash good food
In 2024, there were almost 48 million food-insecure people in the U.S. alone, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
You can help others and get rid of your excess healthy, safe food all at the same time. Sidewalk-based community fridges allow neighbors to leave what they have or take what they need. Find one online (Freedge lists some) or even start your own. Your local food pantry might also take your excess. Some police stations accept non-perishable food to later distribute to food pantries.
- 5 ways to compost if you don't have a yard
- How to save money and help the planet by wasting less food
6. Recycle
After reuse, look to recycle. Your local government can tell you what and how you can recycle in your area. Websites like Earth911 offer ideas for what to do with hard-to-recycle items like packing peanuts and coffee pods.
Clean home, clear conscience
Decluttering is a cycle, not a chore. By choosing to sell, gift or responsibly recycle, you aren’t just reclaiming your square footage; you’re fueling your local economy and protecting the planet. Every item diverted from a landfill is a win for your community and a weight off your shoulders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to declutter responsibly instead of throwing everything away?
Decluttering responsibly helps reduce landfill waste, which contributes to emissions of methane, a climate super-pollutant, and other environmental pollution. By donating, selling or gifting items instead of discarding them, you extend the life of usable goods and reduce your overall carbon footprint.
What are some easy ways to give unwanted items a second life?
You can donate items to local schools, libraries or organizations that help job seekers, sell valuable goods online through resale platforms or share items through neighborhood gifting networks. These options help useful items stay in circulation rather than ending up in the trash.
What should you do with items that can’t be donated or reused?
For items that can’t be reused, look for proper recycling or disposal options. Electronics, certain types of batteries (such as lithium-ion ones), chemicals and other hazardous materials should be taken to designated drop-off locations to prevent environmental harm and safety risks.
Disclaimer: References to specific companies, organizations, products or services are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by EDF.
