Tom Robbins, Still Life with Woodpecker
I asked myself that question - how to responsibly get rid of my possessions - when moving out of Bellingham, living in Seattle for two weeks, and preparing to travel. All of my belongings – recently used and long-forgotten – were in one place, and many of those possessions were ones I would be happy never to see again. So, I sought out the best options for turning my junk into someone else's riches.
MAKE ART! Or, if you're leaving town, look for organizations that will take your donated arts and crafts supplies. Allied Arts Reused Thrift Store in Bellingham took all my old spray paint, butcher paper, bottle caps and more.
Hold a yard sale. It's a fantastic way to spend a sunny day, and you may find the person whose been dreaming of owning your old sombreros and VHS tapes of Eddie Murphy on tour.
What about clothes & running shoes that are tattered and no one else would want to wear? As for the tattered clothes, I found a listing of organizations in the Seattle area that will take any donated textiles, including old shop rags and towels (see also this Seattle Times article for more info). As for holey running shoes, check out the Nike Reuse a Shoe Program for Nike locations that will take any brand of old sports shoe and turn the different parts into materials for running tracks, basketball courts, and tennis courts (at least that's how it's explained on the site).
The trickiest item to find a new home for while I was moving was my laptop, too heavy to travel with but still in good form. When I realized that it was not worth more than $100 and that I had no potential online buyers, I researched other possibilities. One option was to mail my old computer to Dell, where the laptop is refurbished and resold or otherwise recycled appropriately. I know other manufacturers have similar options; just go to their sites and search for “recycle” or “refurbish.” However, the better option was to gift my laptop to the owners of Pert's Deli in Leschi, Seattle. I worked at this deli in high-school and still visit Max and Mai when I am in town. They've never owned a computer, and were hesitant to start, but Mai's curiosity for a taste of the internet was enough for her to accept the “new” laptop.
And while on the topic of reusing, here's an enlightening little video on the story of bottled water. Ok, I admit, it's a plug, but there is good info in there.
What will you do with your old stuff next time you move?