Many of us have concerns about waste and value discarding things in a sustainable way. However often these worthy values can become a barrier to taking steps to declutter for a clearer home.

Some fresh mindsets, practical strategies along with a healthy portion of self-compassion can help to address the challenges and make progress.

Be mindful when you acquire new possessions.

Take steps to reduce what you buy. Stop waste before it even enters your home.

• Vote with your dollar, ensure your purchases support brands that produce well made products that last.

• Avoid cheap items that will break quickly or gadgets that aren’t likely to live up to their promise. 

• Prevent waste by investing in the best quality you can afford.

• Gradually start investing in quality reusables, making sustainable swaps for single-use items.

When making a purchase, ask yourself if you are willing to take the steps needed to dispose of it sustainably at the end of its useful life?

Care for your things.

Make sure that the items you do own are looked after, so they last, this means:

• Storing safely and securely to prevent damage from moisture or breakage. Anything left outside or in a shed or garage will be more exposed to the elements and less likely to last.

• Things that get dusty attract mould and piles on the floor may get stepped on or knocked over and damaged.

• Service and maintain appliances, repair things promptly, follow care instructions.

Your home is not a waste processing station.

Stockpiling recyclables and dormant goods is not preventing waste, it just keeps the waste in your home. The hidden effect of holding on to things can be that they:

a) become contaminated or perish before they can be recycled or donated or,

b) if the build-up is enough, it may mean that you aren’t able to maintain your dwelling or other possessions which also contributes to waste. 

I have seen:

• Rodents and pests destroy items.

• Items unable to be donated because they have perished after being stored for lengthy periods of time.

• Damage to homes from termites and water leaks that went unnoticed due to the build up of clutter.

Prevent waste by not waiting too long before dealing with clutter.

Practice acceptance and take action.

Some things can’t be recycled or may not be suitable for donation. With mindful self-compassion accept that some things are rubbish and will need to go to landfill.

Work out how you’d like to increase your recycling and donating efforts and create systems and set ups in your home to support that, professional organisers often assist with recycling systems.

If you’d like to see more (and simpler!) recycling options in your area, consider getting involved in advocacy movements or write a letter to your local representatives. Currently a lot of responsibility for waste is being placed on individual consumers but there are systemic issues of waste. Wouldn’t it be great if there was an increase in responsibility for waste by government as well as and the industries that create it?

Do your part, but know your limits.

Perfect recycling and donating is not a realistic goal for most of us to achieve. Assess your values but also your time and energy, don’t burn yourself out or be consumed by guilt. Worry about waste can lead to procrastination, overwhelm and a cluttered home. Instead be kind to yourself as well as taking some small steps towards progress on your decluttering project.

If you’re in Brisbane I’ve created a Guide to Recycling and Donating to support your efforts.

If you need more help check out Calm Space decluttering services or consider a virtual consultation to have a personalised chat about your situation.