Earth Day is Every Day at Goodwill®

The theme of this year’s Earth Day – Sunday April 22 – is to end plastic pollution by employing the principles of conscious consumerism: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle.
Earth Day is an opportunity for many to remember their impact on the environment, and to take actions that decrease any negative impact. For some, Earth Day has expanded into Earth Week or Earth Month. At Goodwill, however, stewardship for the earth is part of our mission and what we do every day.
“Goodwill is your best bet for reusing things you no longer need or want,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO, Goodwill Industries International. “On Earth Day, and every day throughout the year, Goodwill’s local donation centers stand ready to receive your clothes, toys, furniture, electronics and other items. By donating to Goodwill, you know those items will be reused by someone else, rather than having them clog up our nation’s landfills.”
In the spirit of Earth Day, Goodwill offers these tips on how you can protect our planet by reusing and repurposing:

  • Use Goodwill’s redesigned Goodwill Mobile App to find locations where you can donate goods and shop for great bargains. The app is available through the App Store and Google Play.
  • The one-time use — and disposal — of plastic kitchen items is a leading cause of plastic pollution. Rather than use plastic or disposable dishes, glasses and silverware, purchase casual sets for picnics, camping, tailgates and other uses at your local Goodwill. (Check out our YouTube channel to find other DIY ideas)
  • Think of Goodwill when it comes time to upgrade and replace your consumer electronics items. Many Goodwill donation centers accept used computers, radios, television sets, and other electronics that are easily reconditioned and sold in Goodwill’s retail locations, thus keeping them out of landfills.

Earth Day is a time for us to think about how we can bring renewal to our planet.  It is the perfect time for us to establish a life-long value change and make positive decisions on what we buy. 60 percent of global greenhouse gas comes from what we consume so we need to seek out solutions that have positive impacts on our world. Remember, reuse, repurposing and recycling take many forms, and can create jobs as well as helping the environment and the bottom-line.
So the next time that new shirt is calling your name, stop and think before you buy…or when cleaning out your closets and cupboards, stop and think before you put those items in the dumpster. Go to your local Goodwill first…drop off those items you no longer need and while you are dropping off your donations, check out the Goodwill store…you might just find an even better shirt than the one you thought you needed to have.