Reuse your stuff
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From: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
- Published on: 18 October 2023
- Last updated on: 7 February 2024
The way we use and dispose of goods today in a “take-make-waste” model is no longer sustainable.
We can still enjoy goods if they are better designed so they can be shared, reused, repaired and remade.
For example, using your clothes, or extending the lifespan of your clothes, for a further nine months through re-use, repair, sharing or swapping can reduce their carbon, water and waste footprint by 20 – 30%.
Reuse ensures that goods – like clothing, appliances or furniture – stay in use and out of waste long as possible. It includes trading or swapping, for example in charity shops, second hand stores or online, repairing, borrowing, leasing and upcycling.
Some examples include buying second-hand furniture, repairing your laptop instead of buying a new one, or using a bike-share service.
There are lots of groups and organisations around Ireland that can help you re-use your stuff so you can get as many uses out of it to reduce its carbon footprint and keep it out of waste.