When should you let go....of your stuff?

"The Story of Stuff" video shows everything that goes into the making of our consumer world--and its unmaking into trash. What if you could help slow that stream of stuff into the landfill? Many of our belongings end up as trash well before their time. Even if the product isn't working, chances are its parts are still useful. See below for 3 examples of common items that can be repaired, recycled, repurposed, or replaced with greener alternatives.

Large appliances

Replacing an old appliance with a newer, more energy-efficient appliance may end up saving you money in the long run. Visit the ENERGY STAR Recycle My Old Fridge site to calculate how much energy your old refrigerator takes to operate, compare it to new models, and find a refrigerator-recycling program in your area. When buying a new appliance, check to make sure it comes with a good warranty. If you think your appliance still has some life left, get an estimate and look for replacement components from a parts database or locator service. Replacing a broken belt or missing handle could get you years more use with only a small investment of time and labor.

Portable mp3 Players

Many people can't live without their portable mp3 players, but how long will their IPod live? These small devices, abandoned when they stop working or just because a new model comes out, can be diverted from the landfill. While preventing damages in the first place is your best bet, there are many IPod repair services on the web, or you can find a local repair shop that specializes in repairing your model. As always when seeking repair help, look for reviews and recommendations from other customers. Fancy trying your hand at fixing it? Numerous do-it-yourself tutorials can help novices jump-start their unresponsive players. If you are convinced that your older device has gone silent for good, both Apple and the National Wildlife Federation have IPod takeback programs.

Shoes

You can always donate your still-useful shoes to a thrift store or other charity, but what about that pair with a hole you've been pushing to the back of your closet? Don't throw them away: Each year the shoe repair industry keeps some 62 million pairs of shoes out of landfills and on consumers feet. If you don't have time to find a local cobbler, or if you need specialized soles for your shoes, consider sending them away to Resole.com. If there's more hole than sole left, should you throw them away? Not yet: you could donate them to be ground up into new soles.

Home Repairs

See our home improvement page for hints on finding contractors and utilizing salvage opportunities for your home.

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