People with chronic disorganization or hoarding behaviors often have a preference for reuse of items. Much time and space is dedicated to allocating volumes of material to piles, bins or bags for recycling or passing on to others. Recycling has become part of mainstream American behavior. According to the Paper Industry Association Council, over 57 percent of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. Most Americans (87 percent) have curbside or drop-off access to paper recycling.
If you are chronically disorganized or have hoarding tendencies, you may find multiple uses for items. You can recycle materials such as paper, glass, metal and cardboard through community recycling programs. WIth the downturn in the economy some of these public recycling programs are not as profitable as they once were and are in danger of being reduced or eliminated.
Some people want to recycle materials but they become bogged down between the saving behavior and the releasing behavior. For example, Burt saves the two daily newspapers in his garage. Because he lives in the country and there is not curbside pickup, the boxes and bags of old newspapers pile up creating a fire and safety hazard. As the pile grows, it gets harder to muster up the energy for Burt to load up the damp and critter-infested paper. Eventually there is no room for Burt's truck in his garage. Still, Burt believes this material must be recycled. His preference in reuse does not translate into the practice of recycling.
For some who are affected by chronic disorganization there are simply too many steps in recycling. While Jeanette knows someone across town that can use her excess books, she never gets over there and is not sure if her contact still needs them. Jeanette doesn't remember to call the friend so the box sits there year after year. Jeanette truly believes she needs to pass along the books but she does not or cannot take the steps to put her reuse preference into action.
A professional organizer experiences in working with people who are chronically disorganized or have hoarding tendencies can help people like Burt or Jeanette to make the decisions that are consistent with their admirable preferences for reuse.
Do you practice reuse or do you stop at the preference for reuse? I would like to hear from you.
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