alternatives to throwing things away: a(n incomplete) list of ways to reduce waste output. contact me if you have ideas to add!

• thrift stores: still-useable items of most kinds (clothing is most popular).
• libraries: book & other media-based donations.
• creative reuse centers (basically thrift stores for art supplies): variety of materials that could be used artistically.
• schools sometimes accept supply donations.
• individuals: most still-usable items; join a "buy nothing group" on facebook or similar & give things away.
• misc.: look up "where to donate (item)" online.

• many urban areas have recycling service.
• in rural areas, you can potentially save/collect your waste & bring it to recycling facilities.
• look online to see whether there is a hard-to-recycle material center in your area (paint, styrofoam, etc.).

• pawn shops & consignment stores can easily be found on the internet.
• host a yard sale; advertising on online message boards like craigslist, the app nextdoor, or similar can help.
• online, there are many marketplaces for this type of thing; the best known are ebay & craigslist. however there are more specialized sites like poshmark & mercari as well.

• repurpose items for non-intended uses (i.e. cutting up an unwearable shirt & using it to patch a torn one).
• look for opportunities to phase in reusable items, such as canvas shopping bags in the place of plastic. however, don't do this before you've used up your current supply first.

• reduce: ask yourself before purchasing or something new, “do i need this? what will i do with this once i’m done? what can i substitute for this? will this object become obsolete or break quickly?” try to be efficient with your use of resources; “disposable” is often a lie.