Think before throwing items out

EVEN though we may no longer want an old toaster, wooden dresser or sofa, it is good to keep in mind others who might have use for them.

Spring cleaning is common in most homes as people prepare to usher in the new year with a fresh start.

It involves getting rid of old items to make room for new things.

In fact, those celebrating Chinese New Year are now dusting and cleaning out their homes to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

But often, this means that unwanted items are dumped outside homes.

In its bid to stop people from dumping unwanted stuff along the roadside, KDEB Waste Management (KDEBWM) is offering to collect bulk waste from houses in Subang Jaya, Selangor for free.

In the right hands, these broken or faded goods can be made new again with a little know-how.

Those with a knack for rescuing broken furniture see potential in bulk waste and the need to give items a second chance.

As the saying goes, one man’s trash is someone else’s treasure.

While it may be convenient to replace an old sofa with something new, isn’t it wasteful and detrimental to the environment to throw it out?

KDEB Waste Management workers collecting bulk waste from a home in Subang Jaya.

I have been informed that old furniture are common items dumped at landfills and illegal dumpsites.

KDEBWM managing director Datuk Ramli Mohd Tahir has said that we live in a throwaway community but the truth is, the problem cannot be thrown away.

With that in mind, in December, I decided to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle by reupholstering a 25-year-old two-seater sofa instead of throwing it away.

Once the old fabric was stripped off, its sturdy wooden frame could be seen and there were no loose joints.

Looking brand new, the reupholstered sofa with its padding and new cotton fabric now sits in the living room.

Giving old furniture a new lease of life is not new to me.

My mother sandpapered and varnished the Khaya timber wood sofa set in our home in Petaling Jaya in the late 1970s.

In fact, it was something we did as a family before Christmas.

More people should think about fixing or repurposing furniture for the sake of the environment.

My Australian friend Mia, who lives in Subang Jaya, told me that she had repurposed several wooden drawers.

With some minor modifications, she turned them into book shelves and a bed for her stray furry friend.

Her eco-friendly approach gave the old drawers new life in her home.

Going green like Mia can also save you money as you do not have to spend on new furniture.

There are also people who prefer buying cheaper products with shorter lifespans so they can get something new and better once these wear out.

Poor quality furniture are common these days and they fit in with the throwaway culture.

However, choosing to restore old furniture helps extend their use and keep them from ending up in landfills.

We cannot ignore the fact that our actions affect the environment but it is not too late to take positive action.

Recycling is another way for us to lend Mother Nature a hand.

The single stream separation project in Subang Jaya is helping households to recycle at their convenience.

The project, involving more than 11,000 households, has seen overwhelming support since it kicked off on Dec 1, 2023.

Recyclables from households are placed into one large bag for collection.

In December, an estimated 18.5 tonnes of plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminium cans and tins were collected.

Active participation among residents has resulted in not only less waste ending up in landfills but also job opportunities as more workers are needed to sort out these recyclables.

So you see, adopting eco-friendly practices can be better for one’s pocket and the environment while creating new jobs in the recycling industry.