If you don’t need it, pass it on

Decluttering not only simplifies your life but it allows someone else to benefit, as presenter Jean Johansson found out for a Zero Waste Scotland campaign

BBC One Show reporter, Jean Johansson, has teamed up with Zero Waste Scotland to encourage Scots to get involved in ‘The Big Declutter’ as part of Pass it on Week, which is supported by European funding.

This year’s national Pass it on Week, until 17 March, aims to illustrate that a declutter is more than just a clear out, it is a way to get the items you no longer use into the hands of someone who will.

New research by Zero Waste Scotland shows over a third (37 per cent) of Scots who throw away household items, clothing and books, do so because they didn’t think anyone else would want them. Just over a third of Scottish people have had a declutter of their homes in the last month.

Jean Johansson welcomed professional declutterer, Zoe Berry, into her home in Ayrshire for her own Big Declutter to show that a sustainable spring clean can make a big difference.

Jean Johansson, ambassador for Pass it on Week, says: “Whether you’re clearing out clothes from your wardrobe or furniture from your home, passing it on is a great way to look after the environment, and it’s satisfying too.

“Decluttering your home is a liberating experience and after spending some time going through my wardrobe, I headed over to R:evolve Recycle in Rutherglen to donate items as part of their clothes swap scheme.”

R:evolve Recycle is a clothes swap boutique that encourages people to bring in any unwanted clothing in exchange for points which can be redeemed against clothing, shoes or accessories from one of their three stores in Scotland. Their aim is to encourage people to think differently about clothing and to make swapping and sharing a natural part of the high street.

Zoe Berry, declutterer at Life Edit says: “Sorting out your home has a positive effect in terms of mental and physical health. We are so affected by our surroundings that it’s no surprise that a cluttered, disorganised space leads to many of us feeling stressed and unhappy.

“A tidy home is a far better functioning one too – it’s so much easier to head out of the door in the morning if things are where they should be. It’s a gift to win back all that time you would have spent looking for your keys and wallet and walk out of the house feeling calm.”

As a member of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (APDO), Zoe has been able to meet other professional organisers, who all share a love for organisation and decluttering. APDO offers a great platform for its members to discuss tactics, share advice Jean Johansson, above right, sorting through her wardrobe with Zoe Berry; Jean taking her unwanted clothing to R:evolve Recycle, above; Nicola Burke tackles her garage, top left and receive training.

Zoe says: “Knowing that I can help other people to stay well and to live as best as they can through this, is what I love. It’s about tidying up, sure, but it’s mostly about working to help people improve their quality of life too. If you are feeling like an organiser could help you, then make the call.

“So many people hold off because they are embarrassed, worried about judgement or feel they should be dealing with their clutter themselves. The last thing any APDO organiser would do is judge; we are here to help. Believe me, once you have made the choice to declutter you’ll be amazed at how it can change your life.”

Research by Zero Waste Scotland shows that 22,310kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced for every tonne of clothes produced. In comparison, re-using clothing creates just 152kg of CO2 through cleaning and sorting, whilst re-using existing fabrics to produce new items produces 956kg of CO2.

Catherine Bozec, consumer campaigns manager at Zero Waste Scotland says: “Passing clothes on means that the vast amounts of energy and raw materials needed to make them aren’t going to waste. We can all reduce the waste impacts of what we wear by seeing the value in our clothes.

“Having a good clear out reminds us of what we really need instead of buying more. Every item passed on is one less item going to the landfill, which ultimately helps to preserve natural resources.”

Pass it on Week is part of Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficient Circular Economy Accelerator Programme, which will invest £73m in circular economy and resource efficiency projects, thanks to support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Almost a quarter of Scots in central Scotland do not recycle because they do not know where to go. By donating to a local charity shop or good cause, your clutter could help make a difference in your community.

Also joining the ‘The Big Declutter’ is Nicola Burke, better known as the ‘Wee Slice’. Nicola is a Scottish influencer and self-confessed, queen of clutter. With two kids, a husband, and a dog, Nicola welcomed the opportunity for declutterer, Mel Carruthers from More Organised, to visit her home and help her with a much needed clear out.

Nicola says: “We moved from a flat in Edinburgh to a family home in the Perthshire countryside 10 months ago and I can say, with confidence, that there are boxes I still haven’t cut the masking tape on, much less unpacked. Add a three year old and a two year old to the mix and you’re beginning to get the picture our house permanently looks like Dorothy’s tornado just blew through it. When I got the call from Zero Waste Scotland to take part in their Pass it on Week, I took it as a sign that it was finally time clear out the clutter!

“With the help of Mel from More Organised, we started in the garage and divided the swaying towers of miscellaneous debris into bags and boxes – recycling, online selling, local groups, upcycling and charity. As the mountain began to shrink, so, too, did my fear of letting things go and I began to see the real value in making space by passing unwanted items onto others.

“The only challenge now is making sure I keep on top of the new regime by having a seasonal clear out of my wardrobe, drawers, cupboards and car.”

● Share your Pass it on Week story on social media using the #Passitonweek #Thebigdeclutter hashtags.

● To find out how you can support the campaign, visit Zero Waste Scotland’s online partner guide, which provides ready to use downloadable material.

● To download the toolkit or sign up as a partner for ‘The Big Declutter’, visit www.passitonweek.com and register your plans at www. recycleforscotland.com