What seems to be the reason people in the middle class all seem to ubiquitously have particle board, metal, wire, plastic, and otherwise cheap material shelving is that it is so affordable. Wal-Mart, Target, Ikea, and others make it all too easy to find shelves that fit any situation in one’s home and to fit just about any space.
For this reason, also, it all too often finds itself in the garbage. People move much more often than they once did. And now, it’s so cheap to throw away that $20 shelving unit and buy new, why am I cramming it into the already crammed UHAUL truck?
Why, indeed. Why it took machines and much fossil fuel to mine the iron ore and to eventually manufacture it into the steel for your wire shelving. They may have painted it black, likely emitting volatile organic compounds (VOCs). And a truck shipped it to a store where you bought it, shipped it home probably via some sort of carbon emitting vehicle, used it for a year or two and now you’re dumping it into the garbage?
By the way, yet another truck is likely going to haul it to a landfill, to, ironically, be buried back in the ground again. Someday it just might become cheaper to mine our landfills for materials than to mine the ores (harrrr). Hopefully if you have to throw out metal or even wooden shelving (which took trees to make and equipment to manufacture and ship) you find some other way, like recycling.
The particular shelves thrown out by my neighbor this weekend were in perfect shape, likely less than a year of use. They’re the style of shelves with four metal posts with shelves that lock into any position on those posts with clips that come with them. These can have a price range of anywhere from $15 for smaller units to $60 for a medium-sized unit, to a couple hundred dollars for large, industrial units. I estimate this unit at about $20 bought new.
It’s that cheap price that no doubt made it easy for this person to throw it away. The knowledge that it won’t be costly to replace if he should need another set makes it all too easy to toss ‘em. But they didn’t end up in the landfill. They quickly were disassembled and landed in my bathtub. Scrubbed down with Dr. Bronner’s soap and reassembled to hold my toolbox, laundry detergent, garbage bags, and other such utilitarian items I want in my home but that were kinda lacking a collective home. Now they have one.
What did I save? As described above, I saved the landfill from having to absorb more metal and paint (and some small plastic pieces) for a unit that while cheap, will likely last a very long time (it’s steel and is pretty strong). These can be used in the office, pantry, basement, anywhere extra storage is needed.
I saved about $20 for a unit that though I may not have bought it next month, I may have bought it or a a similar shelving at some point down the road. Regardless, I’m better organized on the cheap. It took about 20 minutes to clean it up and reassemble. I would have had to spend more time going to buy a unit, driving, assembling, etc.
The next time you move and have shelving units or other small furniture you don’t wish to take with you, make an attempt to sell them on craigslist or ask a neighbor if he or she is in need. You can also donate at a Goodwill or other thrift shop. Host a yard sale if you have a great many items to be rid of before your move.
Related posts:
- New Series: “Saved” This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series...
- Saved: Walking Shoes This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series...
- Saved: Leather Desk Chair This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series...
