So true the phrase – “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Re-sale and consignment shops are on the rise in large part of the economy and for a better reason, the environment.  And now this can encourage conscious thinking about giving an item another life be it an article of clothing, furniture or book and keeping it out of the landfill.

Look around your home – what do you have that can be passed on down the line?  What do you have that needs to be cleared out and shared with another who can use it?  What can you buy used instead of brand new?

Whether it’s trash or treasure, here are a few resources for finding and giving…

Habitat for Humanity : Habitat ReStores are outlets that accept donated goods for resale. While every ReStore is a little different, most focus on home improvement goods—furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances. When we donated an old washer and dryer, they gladly picked it up from our house.

Goodwill: New stores seem to be popping up everywhere and with clean layouts and easy drop offs, this is a great place to find treasures or donate items that still have more life in them.

Freecycle: An entirely nonprofit movement  of giving and getting items for free within organized groups in participating local communities. Search to find a group in your area.

Local Consignment Shops: Great way to move unwanted items out of your home and make a little money at the same time.  Here are a few sites to find local consignment and resale shops in your neck of the woods.

• ResaleShopping.com
• TheThriftShopper.com
• Bestconsignmentshopsoftware.com

Local Animal Shelters or Rescue Facilities: Many will gladly accept old bedding and pillows for their animals in need.  Search the ASPCA for a facility near you.

1-800 Got Junk: From old furniture and appliances to garden waste and renovation debris, 1-800 Got Junk will remove and haul away these kinds of items, plus donate and recycle as much as possible.

Ebay: The online marketplace to buy or sell whatever your heart desires- need I say more?

Trash or treasure…the choice is yours.

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness