Shop smart & share more

Reduce & share clothes & shoes

Why? American shoppers buy five times more clothes now than they did in 1980. And fast fashion has encouraged us to toss those clothes out after an average of just 7 wears!

Resources: Zero Waste City of Alameda (Community Resources section has local thrift stores), Swap Society, thredUP, 7 Best Sites to Rent a Dress in 2024

Repair & repurpose clothes & shoes

Why? Reduce waste, save money, and make your items last longer through reuse and repurposing!

Resources: Zero Waste City of Alameda (Community Resources section has local tailors), Clothing repairs to fix clothes to new again, Instead of hiding rips and tears, the visible mending movement turns them into art, 11 Creative Ways to Upcycle Jeans You No Longer Want to Wear, 7 Easy Ways to Upcycle Clothes and Better the Planet in the Process, No-Sew 10 Minute T-Shirt Tote

Choose natural fibers

Why? Scientists estimate about 35 percent of the microplastics that enter the ocean come via the synthetic textiles. In addition, dyeing and finishing make textiles the number-one polluter of fresh water.

Resources: 4 Simple Guidelines from the Fibershed Clothing Guide, More than ever, our clothes are made of plastic. Just washing them can pollute the oceans.

Wash responsibly

Why? If you wash your clothes less often, not only will they last longer, but you’ll reduce energy consumption and plastic pollution in our waterways (assuming your clothes contain synthetic fibers).

Resources: Less laundry, less often: how to lighten the washday load on the environment, Your Laundry Sheds Harmful Microfibers. Here’s What You Can Do About It, The Guppyfriend Washing Bag or Cora Ball

Organize a clothing swap

Why? Clothing swaps are an effective way to de-clutter your closet, save money, and get a whole new-to-you wardrobe, while minimizing waste and pollution. Plus, they can be a lot of fun!

Resources: 8 Tips on Hosting a Successful Clothing Swap

Reduce & share home goods

Why? How many households have tools or equipment they use only a few times a year? These items take up space, cost money, and require resources to be produced. Sharing is a great option.

Resources: Alameda Free Library & Tool Library, Zero Waste City of Alameda, How to Start a Neighborhood Tool Share

Repair & repurpose home goods

Why? Get creative with your repurpose ideas and try to “upcycle” your stuff into something even better

Resources: Zero Waste City of Alameda, Reuse Alliance, Explore a World of Repair, Toss it? No way!, 65 Useful and Easy Upcycling Ideas for Every Skill Level

Resell & give away home goods

Why? It’s great to find homes for the things you no longer need.

*Disclaimer* Avoid giving away mounds of stuff you've purchased in frequent shopping.

Resources: Zero Waste City of Alameda, Freecycle

Reduce & recycle electronics

Why? According to a report by the World Health Organization and UN Environment Program, global electronic waste (e-waste) reached more than 50 million tons in 2019 – and could more than double by 2050. But less than 20 percent of e-waste gets recycled.

Resources: Re:source Stop Waste, Time to seize opportunity, tackle challenge of e-waste

Inventory neighbors' tools to share

Why? Many households have tools or equipment they use only a few times a year. These items take up space, cost money, and require resources to be produced. Sharing is a great option.

Resources: How to Start a Neighborhood Tool Share

Organize a block yard sale

Why? A neighborhood yard sale can bring a lot more customers to your door. Plus, they can be a lot of fun!

Resources: How to Organize a Citywide Garage Sale

Give non-material gifts

Why? There are lots of ways to show your appreciation that don't involve purchasing more stuff.

Resources: Do you know the 5 love languages? Here’s what they are — and how to use them

Give planet-friendly gifts

Why? By looking for low-impact and long lasting stuff and purchasing from antique or thrift stores you can find some great stuff at a fraction of the price while contributing to a circular economy.

Resources: Zero Waste City of Alameda(Community Resources section has local thrift stores), Shop Fair Trade, 8 Ideas for Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap for Food Gifts

Organize a toy swap

Why? Kids can go through toys, games, puzzles, and sports equipment like there is no tomorrow! Take advantage of their short life span by trading them around. It'll save everyone lots of money and will give the kids something new to play with.

Resources: How to Throw a Toy Swap