Typically I'm not one who gets any joy out of the green guilt trip — I don't like to give them, I don't like to get them. However, that doesn't mean that little green regrets don't haunt me now and again. These regrets are a waste of emotional energy, I understand that. But maybe, if we treat them correctly (i.e., banish the guilt), we could learn a thing or two?
Case in point ...
When I moved in with my partner, there was an inevitable overlapping of furniture and various odds and ends. I gave my second-hand couch to a neighbor who needed it. I put my dishware in a box in the basement. You get the picture.
If my memory serves me correctly, for the most part we were pretty responsible in our purging. However, there were those throw pillows. The throw pillows that came with my partners' sensible tan couch. I hated the pillows and wanted to toss 'em. I dropped a decent amount of hints, none of which hit home. Finally, I had to just say it: "The pillows go or I go." So we shipped them off to a local thrift store. Obviously not the worst thing we could've done ...
However, ever since we got rid of those pillows, we've been in the market for new ones. I kick myself every time we consider buying a new set. Why didn't we just buy some fabric (or better yet, salvage some) and have the pillows recovered?
Obviously, not the biggest green sin out there, but it's still something that occurs to me from time to time, and something that makes me think twice before throwing things out.
Do you have any similar stories?
(Image: Flickr member indigo jones licensed under Creative Commons)
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You did donate the old pillows. They didn't end up in a landfill (on your watch) and perhaps someone else re-purposed or loved them as-is. Take the opportunity to find something you truly love and will last a long time. You learned something here -- now, let go and put your energy into other, more important things.
view learnbydesign's profile
Yeah, I get the "green guilt" sometimes, too. It actually drives my husband crazy that I keep every little thing for reuse. And there are ocassions when I will hold onto something for a year or two and never can find a way to reuse it, so I'll throw it out if it's small or give it away if it's bigger/more expensive. Then, sure as I do, within six months of getting rid of it, I find the perfect use for it. It never fails! But, I have come up with some clever solutions here at AT for storing all of my "to be used again someday" items.
view AprilAries's profile
Yeah, it happens to me. Hasn't killed me yet though. I just try to do better next time.
Anyway, you can still buy some thrift store pillows and salvage fabric and make your own.
view whytephoenix's profile
Ha. Yes, we are pretty green and recycle/reuse/e-waste everything. But we use disposable diapers. 7th gen but an environmental crime nonetheless.
Paying to recyle my batteries doesn't make up for the TON of plastic I am throwing on the Earth.
We are doing cloth for the next one.
view JudiAU's profile