Don’t Throw That Out!

Inevitably, you get to an age where some of your possessions are older than grown adults walking around who weren’t even born when you bought them.  This sad situation occurred recently in our house with my husband’s pajamas.  Yes, he loves them, but, yes, they were purchased in the late 1980’s, which not only makes them old enough to vote, but also serve in the military and drink alcohol.  They had to go.

Now, in these days of environmental awareness I think twice about simply chucking things into the garbage (landfill).  After the wonderful new pajamas were acquired with great reluctance (and much prodding) the dilemma remained about what to do with the old ones, when a post from Brooke on Green Lake Moms caught my eye:

ReTex is a great resource to know about. They take your clothes that are too old to donate (including socks with holes) and they turn them into rags for resale. Some things like jeans I think they boil down to reuse the fibers. They have drop boxes all over the city. The one I use is in the Shell station across the street from Dick’s in Wallingford.  http://www.retexnorthwest.com/

Ho, ho, I thought, let us investigate this drop box at the Shell station!  I gathered up the ancient garments and went on a little scouting mission.  I found the light blue box tucked into the northwest end of the parking lot, easy to reach by car or foot.  There are helpful instructions (bag your items first).  Pull open the door, place items inside and, voila!, a decades-long relationship is finished.  It’s easier saying good-bye knowing they’ll live on in another form.

If you have items in good enough condition that someone else might actually want them (trust me, no one would be desperate enough for these pajamas), here are other places to donate in Wallingford:

• Northwest Center truck – 1550 N 34th St, next to Essential Bakery , 7 days a week 9 AM – 5 PM
• Family Works – 1501 North 45th St.  (206) 694-6727 for more information