Why You Should Declutter Before Going Zero Waste

My personal life has seen me move house twice this year. This means that I’ve becoming intimately familiar with the processions I have accumulated throughout the course of my life and the household products I buy. Both times have seen me do a parse of decluttering. Truthfully, I have done a few parses since and intend to do another shortly. I’ve made some mistakes in doing so but this journey has taught me some valuable lessons on why you should declutter before going zero waste

Why Declutter At all?

If we put zero waste efforts aside for a moment, decluttering does a world of good mentally. I would argue it is refreshing emotionally and ethically, also. Throughout our lives we accumulate so much useless tat. We do so for the most wasteful of reasons. Ultimately it all comes down to two words; “just because”.

If you think about the amount of time, effort and resources that go into making most things – it is a little nauseating to buy needlessly. Don’t you think?  In accumulating things this way we’re leading to more of these items entering the market due to supply and demand. We take a product off the shelf that we didn’t really need (or thought we needed and then never or barely used) and another takes its place. Maybe for someone who needs it, maybe not. We often joke about how the fashion industry is like this.

It’s funny, until it isn’t anymore. There is a cost to reckless consumerism to both our natural resources and therefore the environment.

Now, I don’t mean to be preachy, or ‘Mr Judgey Pants’ about this; I’ve done this myself which I am not proud of; in-fact It is a point of shame.

I’ve bought clothes, movies, music and videogames I never got around to enjoying. Which was a waste environmentally, spatially, ethically and financially.

I did get rid of the things I didn’t need in the end; some to declutter and others because I felt I had to financially. Actually, I got rid of a little too much to be honest but I did learn some lessons about doing so with zero waste in mind.

Why Before Going Zero Waste?

No, I’m not suggesting that you have one last binge before going tea total.

I can see a mindset existing where waste-free and decluttering are some how opposites. Zero waste does not mean hoarder though; it also doesn’t require one last grand act of waste to begin. No, Zero waste is about (among other things) focusing on how we manage our resources. It is about doing good by the environment by ensuring that no rubbish finds its way to landfills, incinerators or the ocean. The goal is a lofty but noble one and there do tend to be missteps on the way but even then followers of the movement put a firm focus on reusability. That there is a vital word. It is the word you’ll want in the front of your mind when decluttering.

Taking a moment to declutter before going zero waste allows you to…

• Take inventory of what you own.
• Come to terms with your consumerism.
• Identify bad habits you or your family have picked up in regards to waste management.

To clarify, zero waste does not mean going without.

You can still love what you love and it is OK to do so. It does require you to be honest about your bad habits though and willing to make some changes. Decluttering forces you to identify what is important to you and what isn’t.

Can you live without those jeans that you bought twelve months ago and haven’t worn? Will you wear them, honestly?

Could you have rented that movie you just picked up? Will you watch it again?

That game you just finished, could you have waited a week and got it preowned? Will you play it again?

Did you need to get that new iPhone this day-one?

If the answer is yes and the product still has a use, that’s ok. That is what you value. Cool. If no, then it is time to whip out the (reusable) bags and boxes I think.

Decluttering gives you an honest idea of where you’re being wasteful and where you aren’t but also…

The removal of unwanted items gets you thinking about how to dispose of your waste in the right way.

Where will those jeans go?

What happens to that movie or game now?

That old phone, how do you stop it going to landfill? 

As mentioned, the whole point of zero waste is to stop your waste going to landfill, incinerator and the ocean via reusability. This attitude becomes a prevalent thought process in your life. I initially found the change jarring but it became natural, very quickly.

Decluttering will help you get into that mindset quicker and dealing with the end-case of removing your waste, helps you reach a place where you preemptively consider this before purchase. As well helping you identify your habits, areas of improvement and making you feel better emotionally, mentally and ethically. It is totally worth it!

For some excellent tips on how to declutter, be sure to visit Live the Easy Life and if you need some extra help, then you could also always consider a furniture removal company like Kwiksweep.