These are the five actions that we hope to prioritize in the New Year, to work on reusing materials and keeping them out of the landfill. 

1. Remember our reusable cup

Most coffee shops and other businesses locally will put your drink in your personal cup if you just ask! Some might even provide a discount. By remembering to bring our reusable cups this year, we can enjoy our favorite beverages without the guilt of throwing out the disposable cup afterwards.

2. Learn how to darn socks

Modern textiles are notoriously unrecyclable. Much of the clothing we buy is a blend; textiles sold in stores today are a complicated weave of cotton, polyester, nylon, silk and more. This composition makes them very difficult to recycle. In 2018, only 15% of clothing disposed of in the US was recycled, while the rest was sent to the landfill or incinerated.

So when recycling is inaccessible, how do we keep clothes with holes out of the landfill? The best thing is to repair! This year, we're starting small by learning to darn. Darning is an old-school technique of repairing small holes on socks or other items by sewing a patch over them. It's an easy process that anyone can learn, no sewing experience necessary. All you need is a needle, some thread, and a darning egg to keep the area taught. By following tutorials online, those old socks with holes can be a new part of your wardrobe, prolonging their lifespan and eliminating the need to purchase new socks every few months.

3. Master the art of regifting

Inevitably, our well-intentioned loved ones present us with gifts that we don't quite love as much as we should. This year, we're throwing out the stigma associated with regifting, and practicing reuse by giving unwanted gifts to people who will appreciate them more than we will. Just make sure not to regift to the original gifter!

4. Bring a tupperware to restaurants with big portions

One of the best parts of going out to dinner is saving half for lunch tomorrow! Instead of asking for a disposable box to take the rest to go, we're sticking a tupperware in our bags to stash away our leftovers before they go in our fridge.

5. Keep reusable grocery bags in the car

Grocery bags are an incredibly easy waste to eliminate from your lifestyle: there's no need to pay 10 cents a disposable bag when you have a stash of reusable ones that can last a lifetime. We're sticking a few reusable bags in the trunk, so we never forget them when we go to the store. Looking to make the switch to reusable bags? We have them available for FREE at the IWMA office! Stop by to pick one up!