It's Your Move

So you’re thinking of decluttering but the idea of your stu going to a landfill is a non-starter? No worries, there are a lot of innovative possibilities. Writer Diana Ballon unpacks your options.

- Diana Ballon

I TRIED NOT TO READ INTO IT WHEN MY SISTER GIFTED me a copy of Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. And, though I discovered some interesting suggestions for organizing my things (items in a drawer should stand upright, not lie flat), I also found that – like much of the decluttering discourse – it failed to address what to do with my stuff once I made the move to declutter.

WHAT ARE THE CHOICES?

The thought that our stuff will simply get thrown into a landfill, I soon learned, is one of the biggest roadblocks for many of us when it comes to letting go. “Ninety percent of people care about where their stuff goes,” says Linda Chu, a spokesperson for Professional Organizers in Canada.

Stephen Ilott, a professional organizer based in Oakville, ON, concurs. People who have invested a lifetime in taking care of memories and memorabilia want to ensure that their things go to a good home – if not to family members, then to those who would benefit most at a women’s shelter, an at-risk youth centre or an innovative charity.

Does this sentiment sound familiar? Our guide will help you find the best new home for your old stuff.

CLOTHING

There are some innovative programs in Canada that are helping to expand the potential for used clothing, with textile-recycling programs topping the list. The city of Markham, ON, has recently initiated such a project in partnership with The Salvation Army and Diabetes Canada. It collects all types of clothing, and those not suitable for resale are recycled and repurposed by other organizations into items like insulation and car seats. The bottom line is, your stuff doesn’t have to be in perfect condition to enjoy a second life. Search online for textile-recycling programs in your ’hood.