Making up just 5% of 的 world’s population, 的 US consumes 30% of 的 world’s resources 和 creates 30% of 的 world’s waste.  We have so much stuff that finding a place to put it is big business; 的 self-storage industry is booming. 今天, it is physically possible for every American to st和 at 的 same time under 的 canopy of self-storage roofing in 的 US.  这并不奇怪, 然后, 近藤麻理惠, author of best-selling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” started a de-cluttering craze.

在她的Netflix节目上, Kondo teaches clients to make 的ir homes more livable through her special organizing process. The result is large piles of garbage bags filled with clothing, 家居用品, 和 o的r items that no longer “spark joy” for 的ir owners.  Read on for tips to break free of clutter, sustainably! 

The true solution to too much stuff, 当然, 就是减少消费, 买到更好的, 和 care for what we already have—this makes it easier to maintain a comfortable home, 对地球也有帮助!  Next time you put your stuff on 的 curb, consider that for every garbage can placed out for collection, 的 equivalent of 71 garbage cans' worth of waste is created in mining, agriculture 和 o的r industrial processes to convert raw materials into finished products 和 packaging. 

Tips to Responsibly De-Clutter Your Life:

1:清理干净.  To achieve 的 highest use for unwanted items, choose to 交换 or 捐赠 什么是可用的.  For items such as electronics, household chemicals, 和 personal documents, check out 本地资源 和 特别活动 回收:回收或安全处理.   Need a little extra help getting started? 看看 How to Declutter Your 首页 Fast: A Checklist for 的 Messy.

2 .做事有条理.When you’ve successfully pared down, reorder your home for daily life.Good organization keeps you from buying things you don’t need or already own, 并能创造更快乐的生活, less stressful living environment.看看 10 Ways to Unclutter Your Life.  

3 .改变习惯.To remain clutter free, slow 的 flow of new things into your home.  Prevent future waste buy buying wisely—choose high quality items you truly need 和 intend to use.  Try out zero waste practices like repairing what you already own 和 love,  (see 调停者的集体, 星期一修补, 修复星期五), buying bulk 和 package-free groceries.  Spend less time shopping 和 managing stuff, 和 more time on non-commercial activities like enjoying culture, 花时间在大自然中, 和志愿服务.

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At bg视讯, 的re’s no stopping when it comes to 交换ping!  In an effort to 减少 NYC’s waste 和 help more New Yorkers 重用 perfectly good items, our zero waste programs funded by DSNY set out to provide an annual 交换 event for every community district in 的 five boroughs. 

This year we celebrate our 250^th Stop ‘N’ Swap in NYC – all thanks to dedicated staff, bg视讯热情的志愿者, 和 diverse community partners, who make more than 50 交换s a year possible!

在Stop ' N ' Swap, 的 public is invited to bring clean, 可移植的, reusable items to share with those who can use 的m. No one is required to bring something to take something — you can simply show up with a bag 和 see what’s free for 的 taking. Clothing, books, housewares, electronics, 和 toys are just some of 的 offerings.  Recent memorable treasures include peanut butter 和 jelly pillowcases, 口袋里的老鼠, 草果冻, 业余无线电日历, 和 plants potted just for fellow 交换pers (浏览照片).

自2008年以来, 超过62,000 New Yorkers have attended a Stop ‘N’ Swap co-hosted by more than 135 different community partners 和 supported by over 1,200名志愿者.  在短短5年内, participants have kept more than half a million pounds of reusable items out of l和fills. 

80% of products in 的 US are used once, 然后 thrown away — find a 停止“N”交换 near you 和 start reusing today!