Bit of bragging here. We finally got rid of all the junk in our garage; it's so tidy we may even get the car in this winter! Just as well because it needs a new roof if we can ever find a roofer . . . . but back to the point. This article is about the joys and practicalities of decluttering: Getting rid of the excess stuff that is sitting in your garage, basement, shed, or storage.
I'm not good at throwing stuff out. It's hard to get rid of things that 'might be useful'. Then there's junk that is too big, or not allowed for regular garbage, and then the stuff that's just too good to throw away.
This is why I like Freecycle. There are lots of freecycle groups in Ottawa, all doing their best to "Keep good stuff out of the landfill". It's a great way to find new homes for the things you no longer need, and sometimes pick up really useful finds for yourself. Join your local group on Yahoo to browse the 'treasures' other members are giving away, and post your own notices.
The golden rule is "recipients collect" If you want free stuff, you have to pick it up at a convenient time for the donor. Last year I helped with a major house clearance and we freecycled lots of stuff. It was fun too. We heard some great stories and marveled at people's amazing plans for our old camping equipment/floor boards/plate glass/electrical fittings/magazines.
Tips for Freecycling
- Scheduling is easier if you list items together and arrange for pick up around the same time
- Items posted with pictures, however basic, always attract more interest
- A nicely worded enquiry explaining why you want an item is more likely to get you the goods. (While emptying the garage we ignored "Yeah! I'll take it off your hands" responses)
Which group should you join? The Ottawa Full Circles group has 9350 members, Ottawa Freecycle has 3361, Ottawa Valley has 1881, Ottawa/Glebe has 2002 and Orleans has 1437. There are many more local groups; click here for a complete list. 
You are welcome to join more than one. Worldwide protocols encourage you to post an item to your local group first (to minimise carbon emissions) and wait a while before posting the same item to a larger group.
Other 'get this stuff out of here' options:
Habitat for Humanity recycles building and renovation materials through their Restores.
The Diabetes Association will collect household items for resale or recycling. They will even help you recycle cars!
The Society of St Vincent De Paul runs stores across Ontario where you can donate clothing and household goods. Likewise the Salvation Army.
Ottawa's 'Take It Back' programme does not work well for me; a long list of empty categories. I feel the disposal cost of things like old televisions and computers should be built into the price of new purchases. Future Shop wanted $35 to recycle our old TV.
For stuff that is really too good to give away, many community newspapers offer free classifieds for local residents. Used Ottawa is a great website for free classifieds, as well as lots of other things. Then there are traditional garage sales and community all-on-one-day versions. I don't know which is better but you can list both kinds for free at Red Flag Deals.
When all else fails there is an excellent waste removal service listed at www.askaround.ca, or you could try to sell your junk as art!
Freecycle, Full Circles and similar Networks in our region: Eric Snyder, who began freecycling in Ottawa, pointed me to this useful 'Hub' with links to all our local networks. Find your local group here and check out the other fascinating links further down the page.
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