Everyday 100's if not 1000's of items are thrown away by thrift stores and resale shops. The pictures you see to the right are just a small sampling of what happens on a daily basis. When I first found the dumpsters of thrift stores I was shocked by what I found. So many items that were perfect for re-purposing thrown away.
Now, don't get me wrong. Some of the items belonged in the dumpsters. There is not much thrift stores can do with clothes that cats and dogs have done their "business" on. Or a shoe without a partner. There is much that had to be in there. But among it all I have found:
--Pots and pans made of aluminum, copper and stainless steel that could have been resold or at least recycled as recycleable metals
--Walkers, bedside toliets, crutches and other durable medical equipment that was in excellent condition that could have either found another person to use or recycled for their aluminum content.
--Toys of all types and name brands. I cannot tell you how many brand new toys I or other people have found in thrift store dumpsters. Not only new toys, but old ones as well. I realize that many resale shops are very concerned with toy recalls, but to throw out all toys, is well, throwing the baby out with the bath water.
--Electronics of all types. How dispose of electronic waste(either broken or outdated) properly is a major issue.
--Valuables such as gold rings, sterling silver, antique plates, watches, old toys, high-end golf clubs and more that was thrown away.
One of the reasons this happens is that some of the "namebrand" thrift stores get so inundated with donations the workers get overwhelmed. Another reason that so much gets thrown away is that the thrift stores accept many items that they have a company policy to not sell. Often times the item is seen as a liability issue and the thrift store doesn't want to take a chance of a lawsuit. But they receive all the items people have to donate, take what they can sell and then throw the rest away. Not all thrift stores and resale shops do this, but it happens more than most people are aware.
The main reason that this happens, I believe, is the mindset of the thrift store industry. With most, if not all, items being donated, the items are seen as disposable, rather than reusable and therefore easier to throw away. Afterall, the person who donated them no longer wanted them. As one thrift store employee said to me when I asked them why they throw so much stuff away, "Because it is ours and we can do with it what we want."
Green & Free, LLC wants to see that mindset changed. Take a look at the Why Green & Free? and About Us links in the menu. bar to find out what Green & Free is doing and how we can partner to see your used goods can go father than the landfill.
Below you will see more examples of what we find. Click on any thumbnail to watch the slide show.
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| Pots and Pans! |
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