Secondhand stores can be fun and full of discovery. Before buying something new, consider looking for the same item at one of Tacoma's many thrift and secondhand stores, antique shops or sharing communities. By choosing lightly used items like clothing, home decor, books, movies and more, you avoid using new resources and prevent those items from being sent to the landfill.
For reused building materials, visit Earthwise Architectural Salvage, Habitat for Humanity, and Second Use. You can also borrow the tools you need to get the job done at the Tacoma Tool Library. Buying and borrowing previously-loved items does more than prevent waste - it can save you money too!
Donate Furniture, Household Items, Clothes and More
Many unwanted items in good condition can be donated to businesses and nonprofits across Tacoma. Contact your local thrift shop, antique store, or community service organization to see what items they accept.
Furniture in good condition can be donated to the NW Furniture Bank, Goodwill, and Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity. Contact these organizations to learn more, including opportunities to have your donation picked up for free.
Clothing and other textiles that are torn or stained can be recycled into new items. Look for a USAgain, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound or Northwest Center drop box, or visit your local Goodwill or Salvation Army to make your donation.
Unwanted automobiles, both working and nonworking, can be donated to local organizations including St. Vincent De Paul of Tacoma-Pierce County, Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity, Vehicles for Veterans, Goodwill, Northwest Harvest and Make-A- Wish Foundation.
Bicycles can be donated at the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center or directly to Bikes for Kids or 2nd Cycle.
Online Sharing Communities
Tacoma is connected through online communities that help people share items they no longer need. Join the Tacoma Freecycle group to be part of a worldwide sharing movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources, and eases the burden on our landfills. Join your hyperlocal Tacoma Buy Nothing Facebook group to meet your neighbors and to give (and receive) where you live.
Donate Items at the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center
Did you know that the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center accepts more than cardboard, metals, glass and plastics? At the Recycle Center, you can drop off packing peanuts, bubble wrap, polystyrene (Styrofoam) blocks and more. Some of these are available to be reused for shipping and packing. You can donate a variety of items, including small appliances, household items, clothing, bicycles and more at the Goodwill Truck parked in front of the Recycle Center. Call the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center at (253) 502-2100 for more information.
Pay Attention to Packaging
Choosing products with minimal packaging helps conserve resources and reduce waste. Another great way to reduce packaging waste is buying in bulk. Of course, this only makes sense when you know you'll use that much!
Boxes
Cardboard is a valuable material, and durable cardboard boxes have many good uses. Here's a new idea you may want to know about: the Give Back Box program. If you find yourself with empty shipping boxes, you can use those boxes to donate unwanted items through the mail. Fill your empty box with donations, then print out a pre-paid shipping label and mail your box full of donations to a local Give Back Box Partner at no charge.
Silica Gel Packets
Have you ever noticed the small white packets of silica gel that sometimes come with new products? You can reuse these too. Silica gel packets remove dampness and help prevent mold and other types of moisture damage. Here are some ways you can reuse them:
- Store them in a box of photos and important documents.
- Use them to dry out electronics (but be sure to take out the battery and memory card first).
- Put them in your suitcase while traveling.
- Add some to your toolbox to reduce rust.
- Or add them to a container of other items where moisture can become a problem.
Prevent Wasted Food
The average family of four spends $1,600 each year on food that goes to waste. When food goes bad before it can be eaten, it also wastes the energy, fuel, water and other resources that went into growing, processing and transporting it from the farm to the bin. The City of Tacoma's Preventing Wasted Food Program and the Food: Too Good To Waste Challenge helps you become aware of how much food you waste at home, and give you the tools and tips you need to waste less. Enjoy more delicious food and save money by preventing wasted food.
Reduce Junk Mail
Reducing the amount of junk mail you receive decreases clutter and minimizes paper waste. Opt out of unwanted mail through the free opt-out service offered by Catalog Choice. Bothered by credit offers? You can opt out of those too. These resources probably won't stop all of your junk mail, so consider contacting companies and organizations directly to stop unwanted mail.
Phone Book Opt-Out
An increasing number of people are turning to online search engines while their phone books sit unused. If you don't want a phone book delivered to your door, you can opt out. Opting out will help reduce the amount of paper used by the phone book industry, which equals about 14 football fields' worth of forest per day. Opting out also helps reduce the amount of climate damaging missions that are released as your phone book is printed and delivered - an amount equal to burning 8.8 pounds of coal. Opting out of unwanted services like phone book delivery is one of the many little things we can all do to make a difference.