Goodwill Makes it Easy to Reduce Your Environmental Impact

We’ve all heard the familiar phrase: ” reduce, reuse, and recycle.” The ” Three Rs” represent a pledge to protect the planet by cutting down on the amount of waste we create. But all too often, we forget the importance of applying this motto to our everyday lives. Many of us mistakenly believe that living a sustainable lifestyle is too difficult, expensive or time-consuming, or that our individual actions won’t make a difference.

However, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Living more sustainably and contributing to a healthier planet is something we can all do””and Goodwill makes it easy. Even taking small steps now will make a big difference for future generations.

If you’re interested in reducing your environmental impact and living more sustainably, Ohio Valley Goodwill is here to help. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Your donations make a difference

Donate used clothing and household goods

Did you know? Each year, Americans produce approximately 262.4 million tons of waste. And while the recycling rate of plastics and paper has increased over the years, our landfills are still overloaded with reusable materials and textiles. According to one estimate, the average American throws away about 81 pounds of clothing each year! That’s a lot of clothing that could be repurposed or recycled.

At Ohio Valley Goodwill, we encourage you to donate your unneeded clothing and household goods instead of throwing them in the garbage. Our convenient local donation centers stand ready to accept clothes, toys, books, furniture, electronics, and more, making it easy for you to donate and reduce your environmental impact.

When Goodwill receives donations, we resell them at affordable prices in our network of retail stores. Anything that isn’t sold in our retail stores is recycled responsibly with help from local recycling partners. By donating to Goodwill, you will feel great knowing that you’re doing your part to reduce waste and protect our planet.

Shop secondhand

Buying used items from a thrift store like Goodwill is another easy way to help the planet and reduce your environmental impact. When you choose to purchase something used instead of something brand-new, you extend the life cycle of that item and eliminate the need to create more new products and more waste.

Best of all, when you shop at Goodwill, you’re supporting our efforts to provide job skills training and employment services to individuals with disabilities and veterans. The proceeds raised from the sale of donated goods helps to support these programs and create jobs in the local community. In short, when you shop at Goodwill, you become a job creator in your community!

Give your car a new purpose

If you have an older car that you don’t need anymore, an environmentally-responsible solution is to donate it Goodwill! That’s because donated vehicles get a new life when they are auctioned at our weekly public auto auction in Cincinnati. Plus, the proceeds from our weekly auto auctions help to support Goodwill’s job training programs and employment services. Our Goodwill Auto Auction accepts cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even boats and RVs””whether or not they are in working condition. Ohio Valley Goodwill is your best bet for a charitable car donation because we make the entire car donation process simple and easy. You can donate a vehicle in Cincinnati at one of our convenient vehicle donation drop sites or arrange to have your non-running vehicle towed free of charge.

Tidy up and donate to Goodwill!

More ” green” tips:

• Avoid single-use plastic when possible. Invest in items such as metal or bamboo straws and reusable water bottles to cut down on disposable plastic use.

• Limit water use. Turn off the faucet while you’re brushing your teeth, doing the dishes, or washing your face. Try to take shorter showers””you can do it!

• Make a compost pile for your lawn clippings and tree trimmings. Compostable materials can be repurposed to help your garden thrive!

• Bike, walk, run, or use public transportation when possible instead of driving to reduce carbon emissions. If you do drive, try to combine multiple trips or carpool with a friend or co-worker.  

At Ohio Valley Goodwill, environmental stewardship is fundamental to everything we do. Our social mission is made possible through environmentally responsible practices, including repurposing and reusing clothing and household goods. Last year alone, Ohio Valley Goodwill diverted over 55 million pounds of goods from local landfills!  

When you donate to Goodwill and shop in our stores, you’re making a positive impact on your local community and the planet. Please join us in our commitment to sustainability by donating your gently used items to Goodwill and buying secondhand goods from our retail stores. Together, we can make a difference!

Find your nearest donation location or retail store and be sure to view our list of items we can and cannot accept for more information before you donate. As always, thank you for supporting Ohio Valley Goodwill!