08/10/2026
Almost every client I have says 'I bet no one else has as many of these as I do'! But the truth is, we all have collections of things, that build up quietly over time. In the consumerist throwaway world we live in, it's so easy to become overwhelmed by the physical items, but also by the sense of guilt we carry when we don't know what to do with them but don't want to add them to landfill. Here are the top 5 items I see in my clients homes, and what you can do with them.
Gift bags. Shiny, sparkly, pretty and convenient...until they turn into a huge pile which explodes every time you open the cupboard door. They're expensive too, and they can't be easily recycled, so what do you do with them when you own more than you will ever need in your lifetime, no matter how many kids parties you get invited to.
Charity shops will take new and unused ones, they tend to go pretty quickly when given away on local freebie Facebook groups, and you may even find your local school or art group can make use of them for crafting with too.
If you're a gardener or plant lover, I bet you have a teetering pile of these in the shed, the garage, by the back door or blowing round the garden. Beloved by spiders and snails, these will eventually be taller than your house if you let them.
I sometimes leave a stack at the end of the drive for neighbours to take, but you will also find donation points in garden and DIY stores, your local allotment and gardening clubs will most likely take a few, and if all else fails, your local recycling centre will be able to take them too.
I still feel smug when I have one of these tucked in my handbag when I'm out shopping (and the silent shame of having to buy a plastic one when I don't...) but the bag of bags is a hungry beast, and before you know you have one for every charity, club, local homemade jam company and brand advertising. Not to mention the funny ones, the pretty ones, the cute ones, the one that reminds you of that immersive art installation you definitely understood...
Next time you have some charity shop donations, put them in one of the tote bags and donate the whole lot. Better still, fill it with biscuits or sanitary supplies and donate it to your local food bank.
Ever promised yourself that THIS time, you are going to take the broken bread maker to be repaired rather than buying another one, and do your bit for the environment. Except you don't use the bread maker very often, so you put it in a cupboard, completely forget it existed, and realise nobody is missing your artisan 'rustic' wholemeal boule anyway. When you finally discover it a year later, taking up most of the cupboard, it's time to accept defeat.
It turns out B&Q have a small appliance recycling point (see my stories post!), and you can take them to the recycling centre too.
Finally, the bag for life dilemma. You forgot your tote (see my previous slide) and you have paid your money to get your fruit and veg home. You carefully fold/scrunch it into a ball, and tuck it inside another plastic bag. And your bag garden has begun to grow.
I often use the thicker ones to post stuff, as they are effectively the same plastic as the postal bags, but they are also welcomed by food banks, charity shops and the donation hub at the supermarket, so you have no excuse. And next time don't forget the tote bag as you have loads of them too 🤣
