Coping with your clutter.

Byline: Judith Doherty

We are facing a change in West Boylston for trash disposal to a pay-as-you-throw/ "green bag program" on July 1. Most folks in town will be concerned about saving money. One question we hear is: What can we do with the stuff we accumulate?

This season, I set out on a campaign to de-clutter our household. The task seemed overwhelming at first, as I faced two loaded garages and an attic that was jammed up to the rafters. The way I tackled it was to decide on a few locations that would welcome my discards. I labeled a couple of bins for each and I began to toss. Along the way, I also learned to set realistic goals; in my case, it was five bags or boxes out of our place each week.

The obvious first option is to hand down clothes and toys to younger kids (family, friends or neighbors). Not as obvious is making sure that useful materials - such as furniture - go to good homes and not to the trash.

Lutheran Social Services (LSS) has a refugee center in Worcester. I spoke with Ben Stephens, a case manager at LSS.

"We expect 50 new people from Iraq this month," Stephens said. Typically the organization serves about 300 refugees per year, but "We've been caught off guard with the numbers," Stephens said.

Part of the resettlement process includes legal assistance, but the very practical side of what LSS does is to help newcomers set up apartments. According to Stephens, about 60 to 65 percent of the clients are from Iraq and another 30 to 35 percent are from Bhutan.

June Ewing, the administrative assistant at LSS, described the "greatest needs" as being furniture, beds, mattresses, tables, chairs, sheets, towels, dishes, pots and pans. She added that donations of diapers, detergent, kitchen supplies, toothpaste, soaps and shampoos are also sorely needed.

The center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 to 5 p.m. Call [phone] to speak with June for delivering donations.

"A volunteer who has a truck or van that is large enough to hold a mattress," would be a wonderful help Ewing suggested.

Donating to charities such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, your church, the YMCA or your local library makes "letting go" feel good, not only for the Fen Shui of open space where piles once ruled, but also because an organization that needs support receives your stuff.

For example, Big Brother/Big Sister sends out a truck periodically or you can call them for a pick-up at your home at [phone].

Staples, off Park Ave in Worcester, takes toys, electronics and equipment that other places may reject.

The Wachusett Recycle Resource Center is like a "swap shop" in that the "merchandise" is free for all and takes most household stuff, except paint and appliances.

The recycle center is only open Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m., and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m.

It is staffed by volunteers and it is a marvelous place to bring materials that are useful but no longer needed. It's also a great place to look for second hand items and interesting art supplies.

Yard sales are another option. Buying and selling at yard sales makes good sense both in terms of economics and environmentalism. High tech types might opt to put their stuff on eBay or Craig's List or freecycle.com.

Maintaining a clutter free home

Once the bulk of the excess was extracted from our home, the next aim was to keep the streamlined approach to living.

First, I've decided to be gentle with myself because I can get down about the piles of unfolded laundry, let alone the piles of papers that come home in school bags and in the mail.

I've got recycle bins strategically located in the kitchen and garage. What's key is to notice where you tend to open the kids' schoolbags and mail and to toss the junk mail and old papers as quickly as they come in.

Keeping trash out of the landfills and incinerators is important to me, so I've got a bag for Goodwill hung on a hook in the playroom and I urge my daughters to give away what they do not use.

In the trunk of my car I keep a few boxes or bags. One is for our nearby recycle resource center and another is for the refugees. I find by having designated places to put the outgoing stuff, I am more likely to get it out the door.

I also try to think of the whole operation as a human service job. While not at all inclined to clean, I am viewing it as helping the poor and saving our world. While that sounds dramatic and grandiose, I am highly motivated by such noble ideas.

Judith Doherty is the chairwoman of the West Boylston Solid Waste Advisory Team (SWAT). For more information about SWAT, or to share your ideas, contact Doherty at [e-mail], or [phone].