“Every book has its own journey.” This popular phrase stands true not just for books but for all the material things that one possesses. Once you are on board with the idea of passing on what you don’t need, there’s no going back.
Now, if you are planning to move, before you hire movers in Singapore, become the spur for all your things to embark on their new journey. Read this blog to pack smart, and donate/recycle old clothes and books on the go. With cheap house movers in Singapore, you can plan to remove all the old things. But with these hacks, you can lower your contribution to landfills and donate/recycle successfully.
In-Store Clothing Drives
Retailers like H&M, Puma, and Uniqlo offer recycling bins in all their stores to accept used apparel. You can ask the store manager for the number of donations they accept at once and their schedule for doing so.
These stores often collect these clothes to reuse them in their in-house manufacturing or sell them to the second-hand market. The completely unusable ones are used to create raw material for the automotive and construction industries.
Charity Thrift Shops
You can also drop off all the gently used clothes at the thrift stores run by local charities. Rather than discarding clothes you no longer wear, you can reach out to the Salvation Army (with hubs at Kinex Mall and Singapore Expo) or the MINDS Shops, which empower people with intellectual disabilities.
These are a great option to donate and recycle at the same time. Your clothes get a new life, and you do your part in reducing landfills. Moreover, in the new-gen, thrifting has become more popular as compared to supporting big brands, so it’s easier to do so.
Textile Recycling Bins
If your clothes are too worn out and old for donation, you can drop them into the dedicated yellow textile recycling bins placed by organisations like Greensquare all over Singapore.
If your clothes are heavily worn, drop them into the dedicated yellow textile recycling bins placed by organisations like Greensquare all over Singapore.
The organisation sells the collected clothes and textiles to second-hand textile importers in developing countries, which helps fund their free collection services and educational outreach. You can opt to donate in the bins or book a home pickup.
Clothes Swaps & Upcyclers
The movers in Singapore can help you remove all the junk from your home in a way that’s legal and environmentally responsible. If you are not big on removal, you can check out organisations like Cloop.
They frequently host clothing swaps or “curate corners” where you can donate old items and browse for a fresh piece for you. This is a great alternative to removing your items in vain. You can grab new clothes and get rid of your old ones at the same time.
Community Book Exchanges
Exchanging is the best and most sustainable option that’s been used in the reader’s community since the dawn of time. When you are done reading, you can pass them on or exchange them for a new one with the readers around you.
If you are planning a bulk exchange, you can drop them off at your local community library. They have dedicated shelves or drop boxes under the void decks for readers to give away their books. You can also seek to take a few picks in exchange. Ask your local libraries about this.
Social Enterprise Bookstores
If you are moving with assistance from cheap house movers in Singapore, you can simply donate your books before the move. The newer book can be given away to The Bookstore by Beyond Borders on Erskine Road.
This organisation resell your gently-used books to fund girls’ education in Nepal. Donating your heavy book collections early helps reduce the volume and total cost of your household move. Also, you become part of a noble movement by donating your books.
Support Local Charities
Donate your pre-loved books to Dignity Mama Bookshop located at Jurong East to support a great local cause. This initiative provides meaningful training and stable employment opportunities for mothers of special needs children.
Choosing to donate gives your books a second life with new readers instead of throwing them away in bulk. If you are aware of the fact that fashion contributes to more than 10% of the global landfills, it’s time you stop being a part of that.
Besides, consumerism is closely integrated into our daily lives. So, we can’t entirely stop buying, but what you can do is to recycle everything you buy, especially before you move.
Takeaways
Donating your books and clothes is a better option than disposing of them in bulk. All these can be given a new life and used by someone else. By donating, you can prevent them from going into the landfills.
Besides, if you are still reluctant to go to such lengths for recycling, you can reach out to some reliable movers in Singapore. The moving services often have a tie-up with local charities and welfare centres.
So, this time, when you move, don’t throw away your things right away, but rather give them away to the ones who still need them.
