Environmental clutter

[juliet]

I am a great believer in Not Hanging Onto Stuff (or at least, not hanging onto too much stuff). The "it might come in handy" mentality is a recipe for winding up with cupboards full of crap, unable to find the things you *do* want. And living with *stuff* all over the place is stressful, at least for me. If it turns out that X years down the line I need whateveritwas, I can get another one.

The flipside to this is the environmental one. If I get rid of things because they don't have an obvious/immediate/probable use, isn't that wasteful? I do my best to get rid of things responsibly (charity shop, Freecycle); but nevertheless, if I wind up needing X, and buying a new X, then that's wasteful consumption.

Buying a second-hand X in that event is one solution (although not always practical). And there are some things that I will hang on to (extension leads being one; also bits of wood, especially now we have the allotment). But there's a lot of stuff that could be repurposed, as and when something comes up - should I hang on to all of it, as a grown-up version of the "stuff to make things with" box that parents sometimes keep for tinies?

Currently I think the Not Hanging Onto Stuff is still winning; but I am starting to think a bit harder about this of late.

(Of course, my consumption in general is a bit high, which is a whole 'nother matter; maybe I should think about that harder first. I am a rubbish hippy :-/ )

Comments

[mrs-leroy-brown.livejournal.com]

You are NOT a rubbish hippy! But yes, I share your keeping stuff angst, or not knowing when to replace stuff. My problem is when to keep something to 'make do and mend' and when to chuck it. I feel guilty because I binned a broken rucksack recently. This is also why I've had the same winter coat for about 6 years now, even though it is falling a bit to bits it still essentially keeps me warm.

sorry, not very helpful. how do you stand on second hand books? cos that's where most of mine have been coming from lately,charity shops that is, and that's good obv but also means fewer royalties for the author. ARGH MORAL QUANDRY.

[juliet]

Criterion for keeping things like coats/bags: do they still do the job satisfactorily? So I got a new bike pannier when the old one developed an 'ole & a broken strap (after >4 yrs daily use, so not too shabby!) - it's going to uon for use for shopping trips, as it'll do for occasional use, just not for daily commuting use. Similarly, my old coat I finally ditched (although, er, actually still have it hanging up because I am convinced that I should be able to think of something to do with the material!) because it *wasn't* keeping me warm properly due to a) thinness of material, & b) wouldn't do up at the front at all (buttons all buggered & front ripped so couldn't sew them back on).

Second-hand books: that is also my dilemma! I think it is OK though to just keep doing the charity shop thing. Also libraries, cos then they do get royalties :-)