COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
| Zero Waste Tip: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle By thrifting you contribute to the 3 R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle to help the planet. You can find great items for a reduced price, make them new to you, and in the long run you can save a lot of money. So, the next time you need clothes, give thrifting a try. |
Thrifting has a simple definition which is buying second-hand, gently used materials at a discounted price. You may be thinking, “Why would I want to buy someone else’s things?” Especially, if they have been used? There are several answers “why” you want to take a chance at thrifting. First, the most obvious is to reduce, reuse, and recycle to help the planet. The next best answer is because at a reduced price you can find items that are still in very good condition or basically brand new.
By thrifting, you reduce waste which has a big impact on what ends up in the landfill. “85% of our clothes end up in the landfills or burned,” noted the California Public Interest Group (CALPIRG). The average American throws away approximately 81 pounds of clothes every year. Globally an estimated 92 million tons of textile-waste is created each year and an equivalent of a trash truck full of clothes ends up in a landfill site every second every day,” as stated by Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that textiles, which includes clothing represent 6% of total municipal waste in America.
Another reason to thrift is the wide selection at a reduced price of almost everything for everyone, since every item at a thrift shop is from a different person. You may be overwhelmed with the amount of stuff you can find at a thrift store. Be sure to peruse all the items because you never know what you might find. However, if you don’t find something you like, you can always pick out items to customize, tailor, and make perfect for you.
Check out these thrifting tips to help get you started:
- Use your smartphone to look up brand names for higher-end clothing items.
- Visit online thrift stores to buy and sell items.
- Shop with cash to avoid impulsive purchases that you do not need.
- Making a trip to the thrift store? Bring some old clothing or other items for donation.
- Know your thrift store’s hours of operation and rotations of items; also, check for off-season items i.e., winter coats in the spring.
- Be willing to leave empty handed; some trips will yield a mountain of great finds while other times you may not be so lucky.
- Go often! If you want quality stuff you need to go regularly to check out the newest finds.
- Thrift shopping is about the experience and hunt for that perfect one-of-a-kind item that you’ve been looking for.
By thrifting you contribute to the 3 R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle to help the planet. You can find great items for a reduced price, make them new to you, and in the long run you can save a lot of money. So, the next time you need clothes, give thrifting a try.
For more information, check out the Los Alamos County Environmental Services webpage at www.losalamosnm.us/gogreen. For those with questions or concerns, please contact Environmental Services at 505-662-8163 or solidwaste@lacnm.us
* Zero Waste Team: The Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) and Environmental Services Division (ESD) formed the Zero Waste Team to educate the community on:
- reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and
- conserving energy and water.
Comprising community volunteers and Los Alamos County employees, the team achieves the ESB and ESD charge through printed and digital messaging that is shared through traditional media sites, social media, and brochures. Moreover, the Zero Waste team members work with individuals and organizations, such as restaurant owners, businesses, schools, and residents, to incorporate these best practices to reduce and conserve into daily routines. To join or contact the Zero Waste team, contact ZeroWaste@lacnm.us.