It’s clear, now more than ever, that waste is a hot topic in our culture. From minimalism to declutter blogs, we all seem to be sick of stuff but also instinctively drawn to it. There’s just something about the comfort of things. JamesClear.com writes about this tendency called the Diderot Effect. Once you purchase something new and shiny, it only seems appropriate to buy matching accessories; what you already own is old and dull in contrast. It makes sense on most levels however we can’t forget that looming bigger picture. Our actions are always more than what they appear. Let’s start with the new purchase. When we make even a single purchase, we increase demand from suppliers. This isn’t a bad thing, just how that supply and demand relationship works. As consumers, we are pretty powerful! There’s an excellent quote by Anna Lappe,
“Every time you spend money, you are casting a vote for the kind of world you want,”.
If you want to upgrade your home’s appliances or are doing some renovation, there’s no reason to feel that you morally shouldn’t or can’t. That decision is ultimately up to you. What’s important to keep in mind is the investment that you are choosing to make. What are you asking for, what purpose will it serve, and where are these things coming from? This matters because things don’t simply appear or go away. They may come and go in our living space but they stick around on the planet. What a drag! We know, we get it, and ultimately, we can relate. What’s pretty amazing about salvage yards and reuse facilities like Resource Central is that we make that stuff available for use again. Before looking into the new and high-end check out the antiques and crafted. There’s a charm that doesn’t seem to be manufactured today. The EPA makes a valid point as well,
“The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place,”.
It’s hard to argue with that.
Okay, so you’ve decided to upgrade and now you have lots of things. What are you to do with the “old”? Declutter and donate! Stop holding onto things that don’t serve a purpose now or in the near future. When walking around your house and yard take note of that extra material that you’re not really sure what to do with. All it’s adding to your life is more to dust. Not to mention when you declutter and donate, you fuel the circular economy and often make upgrades possible for those who can’t afford the new and shiny.
Your donations to Resource Central help the present and the future community. You’ve got a lot of power, don’t waste it.
