Ecologue

WasteHacks [wāst-haks] pl. noun – any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method that reduces waste in all walks of life.

This term, Campus Recycling and the Waste Watchers will share with you easy WasteHacks so you don’t waste time or materials.

WasteHacks for Buying Used

Prices have gone up noticeably for everyday items like clothing and bicycles. Despite this, other methods exist to live an environmentally conscience lifestyle without hurting the bank. Buying used items is an excellent way in which one can reduce their carbon footprint.

Used materials are cheaper and reduce fossil fuel emissions by reducing demand for new products. They are also relatively easy to come by and in some instances are made with more durable materials than can currently be bought on the market.

Here are a few ideas for where to buy used:

• Visit the OSUsed Store during public hours; you never know what you might find!
• Looking for used clothes? The Women’s Center hosts a clothing swap at the end of every term. Drop off clothes you no longer want, pick up some new duds, or both!
• The Corvallis Bicycle Collective sells used bikes and bike parts at affordable prices.
• New is old at Corvallis Furniture, where furniture is upcycled and refurbished. Aside from buying used swanky used furniture, you can even rent out a toolkit for your own projects!
• Take advantage of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition’s Reuse Directory.

Even if these used items do get damaged, there are people and places willing to repair them. Repair Fairs are held twice per term at the OSU Surplus Warehouse and are a great way to get your items repaired instead of going out and purchasing new materials. Repairs often include home appliances, clothing, and many other skills.

“Wastehacks” is a weekly blog series where we share quick waste reduction tips. Tune in every Monday this term for more.