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Decluttering and Sustainability

Writer's picture: Melissa SchultzMelissa Schultz

Decluttering leads to a more sustainable lifestyle that benefits you and the environment, but decluttering and sustainability may not align up where you'd expect.


A jumble of open cardboard boxes full of clothing and home goods
Learn more sustainable consumption habits from your decluttering


Climate change has been on my mind since the 1990s, so it might shock you to hear me say decluttering is not the time to save the planet. Decluttering and changing your consumption approach will have a more significant long-term environmental impact.


If you are lucky enough to have easy access to recycling, resale, or donation services, use them or don't, but don't let that impede or derail your decluttering. If you see the complexities of altruistic disposal getting in the way of your decluttering, simplify and put it all in the trash. Those "ideal" resources are short-term sustainability strategies.


Sustainable Consumption


Have you ever heard the phrase, "Vote with your wallet?" Every purchase you make signals manufacturers to produce more. Manufacturing, packaging, and shipping consume natural resources. Once a product is on the market, most of the damage has been done. Our consumption choices are powerful.


REDUCE, Then Reuse, Then Recycle


According to the EPA, only about 32% of solid waste produced in the US gets recycled. A study published by Nature Sustainability says, "Reducing waste generation is far more sustainable than managing waste after it has been created. ...Recycling as a last resort."


Consume Less, Consume Intelligently


You are not your depression-era great-grandparents. We don't live in a world of scarcity or limited access, yet we consume like we do. Most Americans live within 5 miles of Walmart or Target. Buying things in bulk often means sacrificing quality, increasing waste, and little or no actual savings when you throw half of it away when it goes unused. Experiment with buying just enough to get you through until your next regular shopping day and see how it feels.


Decluttering and Sustainability Align


Declutter relentlessly without guilt or shame.


Decluttering requires tremendous mental and emotional resources. Decision fatigue and delayed decision-making are the most significant barriers to letting things go and the key reasons why items stack up in the first place. Eliminating the environmental factor in disposal decisions reduces those barriers and simplifies decluttering.


If you're having a difficult time dealing with the emotions of decluttering, read this blog post.


Conclusion: Learn More, Consume Less


Learn from the process of letting go and use it to change your long-term consumption habits. If it isn't serving you, throw it in the garbage, regardless of its condition or value. Get it out of your space for good. Then, pay close attention to what you allow back in. Going forward, you will be disposing of fewer items less frequently so you can be more mindful of your disposal methods. The results will be a big win for you, your space, and the planet.


Ready to get started? Contact me!



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