Trash & Recycling

Hilda Rodgers
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A lot of clutter in our homes is really garbage or recycling.  It’s not stuff we’ll use again and it’s not in good enough condition to donate or give away. Let’s take a minute today and think about how to deal with the garbage and recycling we’ll find as we declutter.

What Kind of Bags I Recommend

As you’re decluttering, you’ll want to donate or give away (or even sell if possible) as many items as you can to avoid sending usable items to the landfill.  But for everything you’re decluttering that isn’t usable, toss it in the garbage or recycling.  Just get it out of your home!

I recommend using black garbage bags for garbage and blue bags for recycling (or whatever is the standard where you live). By using different colours you won’t get confused (which is why I also use clear bags for donations). Bags with drawstrings make it really quick if you have lots of bags. Depending on what kind of trash you are eliminating, you may want to use odor shield bags so things don’t get too smelly.  Empty cardboard boxes work well for recycling too, especially if you’re decluttering a lot of paper (it weighs more than other recycling so you can’t fit as much in the blue bags or they will tear). If you have lots of heavy garbage, I recommend contractor grade bags which are much thicker and stronger. I use them on most jobs with clients.

From my experience as a professional organizer, I can tell you that you get what you pay for with cheap bags. 

  • They don’t hold as much (so you end up using more of them which costs as much in the end as better quality bags)
  • They rip easily (and who wants to spend time cleaning up when bags break or tear?)
  • If you’re filling a lot of bags it takes extra time to tie them with twist ties or knots.  

With the amount of garbage and recycling you’ll hopefully be tossing as you declutter, spend a bit extra and get good quality bags. You won’t regret it!

Note: make sure you know what the garbage and recycling rules are in your region. Some places only take garbage in cans or recycling in bins. If that’s the case, you can still fill bags in your home and then dump them into the required containers.

Peter Walsh’s Trash Bag Tango

If you know me or have been following me for awhile, you know I love Peter Walsh, and that he’s one of the main reasons I became a professional organizer.  One of my favourite tips from Peter is the “Trash Bag Tango”.  This really works!

Here’s an old video of Peter to tell you about it:

We already talked about donations, but I like Peter’s idea of walking around and grabbing all the garbage you can find from the area you’re trying to declutter.  It really adds up and makes a big difference!  Then once you’ve decluttered all the “easy” garbage and recycling, you’ll be able to see better what clutter you’re left with.  That will make it easier to tackle it.

I’d suggest modifying Peter’s 2 bag system and have 1 bag for garbage and 1 bag for recycling.  Gather all the garbage and recycling first, and then, as you go through everything else, you can decide if you want to donate, give away, sell, or keep it. And as I mentioned before, I’d recommend using different coloured bags so things aren’t accidentally confused.

A Note About Shredding

If you’re decluttering mail or other paperwork, you’ll probably come across items you should shred. Anything with addresses, account numbers, or confidential information should be shredded instead of recycled.

For small amounts, you can designate a bin or a box for shredding to go into, and when you’re finished gathering it all, you can take a few minutes and shred it yourself.

There are lots of options available for shredders.  Here are a few different types and who they work best for:

  • Light-duty shredder that sits on your own wastebasket – this kind works well if you only have occasional papers to shred.  They’re usually less expensive than the other types. And if you come across an extra garbage can in your decluttering you can use it!  
  • 6-sheet cross cut shredder – this kind works well if you shred a few papers a few times per week. 
  • 12-sheet high-security micro-cut shredder with pull-out bin – if you have a home office or shred a lot of highly confidential documents, this kind will be best.  It’s more expensive, but the pull-out bin makes it easy to empty and the 12-sheet capacity means you can shred more at one time.  It also shreds your documents into much smaller pieces so it’s more secure.

I’m not recommending a specific brand here (I’ll leave it to you to read reviews), but these links will give you some ideas of what kinds of shredders you can purchase.

If you shred on a regular basis, you can usually keep on top of it yourself.  But if you find you have a lot to shred all at once, you may want to consider having it shredded somewhere else.  Around here, most places charge about $1/pound so a bankers’ box of papers is usually around $20. That saves a TON of time shredding it yourself.

It’s also good to send your shredding away if you have limits on how many bags of shredded paper you can put out with your garbage or recycling.  Some companies will even pick it up (for a little more cost) if you have enough.  Check online for reviews to make sure you use a reputable company.

What’s Next For You?

Here are a few things you can do to make the garbage and recycling part of decluttering easier for you:

  • Research your local waste management’s rules for what items are acceptable in the garbage and what items can be recycled 
  • Find out what the garbage and recycling pick-up schedule is for your home (if you’re not familiar with it, print it out and post it someplace where you can easily refer to it)
  • Determine if some kinds of waste need to go somewhere else, and what the hours of that facility are (electronic waste, batteries, chemicals, etc.)
  • Stock up on garbage and recycling bags (or whatever materials you need in your area) and keep them in an easily accessible area in your home
  • If you anticipate having some shredding as you declutter and you don’t have a shredder, do some research and purchase one that best meets your needs
  • If you think you’ll have a lot of paperwork to shred, research the costs and procedures for shredding companies in your area
  • Now jump in and declutter some trash or recycling! Just grab a couple of bags and get started!

Ready to declutter? Want more decluttering ideas, tips, and inspiration?  Need some motivation and accountability to keep you going?  Here are some ways to get that:

  • Buy my book Decluttering From A To Z. For each letter of the alphabet, there are decluttering tips, lists of items you can let go of, and inspirational quotes about decluttering. This blog post is actually a sneak peek at the beginning part of the book!

Share Your Vision and Goals!  

As you prepare to declutter, tell a friend or family member, or share on your social media channels what your motivation and your goals are. This will help keep you accountable and increase the likelihood of achieving your goals. You might inspire them to start decluttering themselves and you can cheer each other on.

A great way to stay motivated when decluttering is to take pictures of what you’ve decluttered, or take before and after pictures. These pictures can be motivating if you get discouraged along the way. You can look back on what you’ve already done and see the progress. That can help you get back on track so you can achieve your goals.

Please don’t feel embarrassed by your before pictures… we’re all in this together! You don’t have to share your pictures with anyone but take them for yourself at least. You can share them on social media and use the tag #DeclutteringFromAToZ so I can cheer you on. If you want to share them in a safe place for accountability, join the 365 Items in 365 Days Facebook group. Only group members (fellow declutterers) will see your photos. We’ll all support you!

How much of the clutter in your home is actually garbage or materials to recycle?  Have you ever tried the “Trash Bag Tango”?  What tips can you share for preventing garbage or recycling from cluttering up your home?

If you need help decluttering, contact me for in-person organizing services in the Mississauga area, or virtual organizing services anywhere else.

Happy decluttering!


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