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As spring arrives in the northern regions of the northeast, the lingering chill of winter slowly gives way to warmer days, albeit mixed with mud and pollen. In Vermont, the transition is often accompanied by a dusting of yellow pollen that signals the start of spring cleaning. This annual ritual often leads to decluttering and the urge to purge. It’s almost as if I’ve stepped into a whimsical story where one small task spirals into a massive donation spree. However, the guilt of discarding items that still hold some functionality can lead me to donate things that truly belong in the trash. This practice, known as wish-cycling, is something we should all be mindful of.
Wish-cycling occurs when individuals recycle items that aren’t actually recyclable. People often hope to give a second life to something that is fundamentally garbage. This can apply to anything from greasy pizza boxes to broken furniture that you think someone might want to repair. Contaminated materials, like those greasy pizza boxes, can ruin entire batches of recyclables, while other items—such as certain plastic lids or household glass—are often too difficult to process properly. It’s essential to check with your local waste management service for what can actually be recycled.
Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, I was raised on the mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” which makes it hard to throw things away. But clinging to the hope that a broken appliance or an unstable table could find a new home often undermines my environmental intentions. It’s important to recognize that not everyone will see value in those flawed items, and they might end up as waste anyway.
Organizations like Goodwill face challenges when it comes to these donations. They often end up sorting through items that aren’t sellable, resulting in substantial waste. In just one year, Goodwill in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine disposed of over 13 million pounds of unsellable items. A spokesperson for Goodwill suggests that before you donate, you should consider whether you would buy that item yourself if you were in need.
Sometimes, the easiest option for disposal—especially for those who may not have the means to take items to the dump—is to leave them at donation centers. However, for those of us who can afford proper disposal, it’s crucial to be more discerning about what we give away. It’s okay to throw things away if they truly don’t serve a purpose anymore.
Recycling is only beneficial when items can genuinely be repurposed. We need to accept that it’s acceptable to recycle less and focus instead on responsible consumption that reduces harm to recycling facilities. If you want to minimize waste, consider using reusable shopping bags, purchasing in bulk, avoiding single-use plastics, and ensuring that what you buy is fully recyclable. When it comes to broken items, consider repairing them or upcycling them into something new instead of simply tossing them aside.
While we cannot always expect our discarded items to be transformed, we can make better purchasing choices and find smarter ways to dispose of things that no longer serve us. For more insights on home insemination and related topics, check out this other blog post or learn more about the process at Make a Mom, a trusted resource on the subject as well as Rmany, which offers excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary:
Decluttering can lead to wish-cycling, the practice of recycling non-recyclable items in hopes of giving them a second life. It’s important to assess the actual recyclability of items before donating them, as many end up as waste. Responsible disposal, careful purchasing, and thoughtful recycling can significantly reduce harm to the environment and recycling facilities.
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