REUSE & REDUCE
GIVE IT A NEW LIFE…
Donate. Give unwanted items to charity. Explore the Waste Free Greenwich resource, “Where to Donate” for an itemized list of places to donate specific goods.
Give. Pass on items no longer in use to friends, family or neighbors. Or give and get stuff for free in your community with Freecycle.
Borrow. Consider sharing or renting things like tools, machines & other supplies with friends, neighbors or colleagues instead of buying new one for one time projects.
Sell. Earn some cash by consigning clothes, accessories, furniture and décor at one of the many consignment shops in Greenwich. Buy, trade or sell used goods on platforms like Craiglist and eBay.
Repair. From shoes and appliances to tech and vacuums, opt to fix broken & damaged items at the available repair shops in Greenwich. Or learn how to repair just about everything on the Wiki-based platform iFixit which offers free repair guides for thousands of items. You’ll save money, resources & support local businesses.
Upcycle. Transform a material destined for the trash bin into something purposeful, beautiful or valuable. For example, create a candle holder from a ceramic pot or fun purses from fused plastic bags. Ideas abound on the web!
Redo. Repurpose, refinish or reclaim outdated goods. A fresh coat of paint can transform an item.
BYO REUSABLE - SKIP THE DISPOSABLE!
Water bottle. Fill ‘em up using a durable water bottle with tap water.
Cuppa Joe. A travel mug rather than a disposable cup is the perfect solution for coffee and other beverages. Save a little cash too at restaurants that give a discount when you BYO.
Shopping bags. Greenwich bid good riddance to plastic bags with its 2018 ordinance and now Connecticut has followed suit. But be sure to use washable cloth bags over paper bags at grocery and retail stores.
Produce bags. Rethink all your disposable bag habits! Skip the single-use plastic and bring instead smaller reusable bags for fruits, veggies and bulk items. These bags are available in stores and on line, or make your own with scrap fabric.
Buy in bulk. Mason and other glass jars, along with cloth bags, are the go to in the bulk aisle. Buying in bulk will reduce packaging and save money.
Doggie bags. For leftovers when dining out, bring your own reusable to-go container.
BEFORE YOU BUY NEW
Clothing. Hit local consignment stores, organize a neighborhood clothing swap or give that frock a new look by hemming or altering. Make old clothing and linens into rags or upcycle them into accessories or quilts.
Sports gear. When trying a new sport or updating equipment for growing kids, invest in used gear. Explore local yard sales or start a drive in your neighborhood or school. Check out Waste Free Greenwich’s events page for drives or sales.
Books. The local library and book shed at Holly Hill is sharing in action. Take advantage of the wealth of books, music, movies and much more!
Batteries. Invest in rechargeable batteries and a charger.
Tools and equipment. Before buying expensive items that may just sit in your garage or basement, ask a friend or neighbor to lend them. The sharing economy is gaining traction with online tools more widely available, like Collaborative Consumption that lists known share sites.
Building materials. Construction and demolition materials compose 2% of Connecticut’s overall waste. By reusing items like lumber, doors, window and fixtures, we can keep them out of the incinerator or landfill. Discover where you can find these materials with the Waste Free Greenwich resource, “Where To Donate.”