| The gift economy—a system whereby goods are not sold but given away—has been around for as long as we’ve had things. The reasons for donating are manifold, ranging from the goodness of your heart to the benefit of selling a home quickly. And the best way to get rid of things you don’t need, is to get rid of things you don’t need. Altruism can often feel much better than the hassle of trying to sell stuff. You could probably make more money per hour by babysitting. And having a garage sale is a testament to the hours of preparation it takes to make $35. Stuff like mauve ruffled bedskirts. Tiny pillows with tassels. Letters that include details of your sister’s weight-loss journey. Spray starch left over from a former relationship. Souvenir dishtowels. Ill fitting bathing suits. A bewildering range of skin care products. As you surely have heard, the younger generations have little interest in inheriting the loot amassed by their baby-boomer parents. Silver, crystal, fondue sets, avocado slicers, partially consumed tub of cheese balls, nine-foot-tall toy giraffes you won at the Calgary Stampede—they want none of it. Finding new homes for your stuff can be a challenge. So where can all of this go? Mattresses The environmental impact of hauling an old mattress to the dump is substantial. It takes years for a mattress in a landfill to decompose, or else it’s burned, which is equally bad for the planet. Rest easy and take old mattresses and futons to Re-Matt. Bits and Bobs Tricky Trash, will take away the stuff you can’t give away — old batteries, old paint, expired medications, used razors — and make sure they’re delivered to the proper processing centre or recycler. Tricky Trash supplies you with a “Bits, Bobs, and Batteries” box, and, once full, takes it away on an electic bike for a $5 collection fee . Books If you don’t have the patience to sell your books to a reseller like Fair’s Fair or Pages, Books Between Friends will take your books off your hands. it’s a volunteer-run bookstore that gives profits to a variety of charitable organizations. Or stock some of the many Little Free Libraries scattered throughout Calgary. Craft and Sewing Supplies From that unfinished quilt project to extra fabric to the sewing machine gathering dust, the Ujamaa Grandmas Fabric and Yarn Sale will gladly take it for their annual spring fundraiser for the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign. I Ikea Furniture IKEA now has a sell-back program: you email them pictures and they email you back with what it’s worth in store credit. Note that the item needs to be brought into the store fully assembled — although not very convenient if you don’t own a truck. Electronics Electronic Recycling Association will take old electronics, and either fix, recycle or donate them to schools and charities in need. As part of a pilot project with Alberta Recycling Management Authority, The City of Calgary will also accept most anything with a power cord or battery — free of charge. Clothing and Household Items Donate to an organization like The Kidney Foundationor Diabetes Canada which sells cast-offs to Value Village and uses the proceeds for research. They’ll even come pick the stuff up. Investigate your charity well and put your items where they will do the most good. Two organizations to look into are WINS and Dress for Success, which both help women grow in our community. |
Where to Get Rid of Stuff
August 30, 2024 by
Recent Comments