greenliving


ers are better than folded piles that get messy.


Tips for the Best


Unwanted Stuff a New Life by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist


E


ach American discards an average of 4.4 pounds of personal garbage a day according to the U.S. Envi- ronmental Protection Agency. Half of what we toss can be recycled. A yard sale can both clear out the clutter and keep reusable items in circulation.


Assemble Merchandise In assembling merchandise from all around the house, make it a family affair, with everyone contributing things to consider together. Before putting any item in the “keep” pile, ask: How long have I lived with this? How often did I need it? How often will I use it now and in the future? Check with neighbors and friends


to see if they want to join in a multi- family sale likely to draw more poten- tial buyers.


Advertise Getting the word out is essential. Place a yard sale listing in a local newspaper, either for free or a small fee. Free online posting is available at Craigslist.org and GarageSaleHunter.com. Also, post flyers (on recycled paper) seven to 10 days before the sale along busy streets


52 Long Island Edition


in the community. On the event day, make sure that large, bright signs in the neighborhood lead buyers to the sale. Reuse card- board from old boxes to save money and recycle signs and flyers afterwards. Cindy Skrzynecki, of Minneapolis, who has monitored the phenomenon, notes, “Shoppers tend to equate the size of a sign with the size of a sale, so a few large, well-placed signs may draw more people to you than several smaller signs.” Skrzynecki says that holiday weekends or weekends that coincide with popular local events are excellent because, “You’ll provide a fun activity for people that stay in town.”


Set Up How items are displayed is important. Here’s how to make old stuff as attrac- tive as possible to buyers. The cleaner the better. Make sure all items are presentable. Make items visible. Arrange a


display that’s catchy and organized. Use tabletops and bookcases; even improvised surfaces can work, such as plywood atop buckets. Show clothing effectively. Hang-


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Yard Sale Ever How to Profitably Give


Does this thing work? Have an extension cord handy so people can test electrical devices, and provide a measuring tape for furniture and other large items. Have batteries on hand for testing items like flashlights or electron- ic games. Label things that don’t work and price accordingly for those that know how to fix things or strip parts. Ensure the price is right. All items should be clearly priced via a small sticker; buyers quickly tire of asking and sellers may not recall earlier answers. For multiple sellers, use a different col- ored sticker for each, remove the stickers as items sell, and use the totals from the stickers to divide profits at day’s end.


Where to Unload the Unsold


Electronics Industries Alliance Environment Consumer Education Initiative—Many organizations will refurbish and donate used electronics to charities and nonprofits that can use them. Those that recycle ancient or broken equipment can be found at ECyclingCentral.com.


ExcessAccess.org—This service matches business and household item donations with the wish lists of nonprofits that provide pick-ups.


Goodwill Industries—Check the yellow pages or Goodwill.org to find a nearby donation site and store; 85 percent of profits support employ- ment services.


The Salvation Army—Check the yel- low pages or SalvationArmyUSA.org to find the organization’s nearest do- nation site (by zip code) or schedule a pickup (click Ways You Can Help); 100 percent of profits from sales fund its service programs.


Vietnam Veterans of America—Pick- ups usually can be scheduled the same week; accepts a full range of household items for use by veterans’ families (PickUpPlease.org).


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