By David Heitmiller

Cars with trailers, pickup trucks, vans and station wagons lined the street as far as I could see -- waiting. Waiting for the starting gun it seemed. Each one filled-to-overflowing with junk -- or at least it seemed like junk at first glance. Toys, televisions, and turntables -- mowers, microwaves and mudflaps -- freezers, furniture and footballs -- at one time treasures, now trash. The once-proud owners now gunned their engines impatiently as they waited to dump their previously prized possessions.

This was the scene as I arrived to help at my neighborhood's recent annual cleanup day, the one day a year residents can get rid of stuff without paying or hauling it to the dump. Large dumpsters are placed at a couple of centralized points in school parking lots and citizens line up for their opportunity to "unstuff" their basements, garages and yards of any unwanted items.

Like most people, I am aware of our nation's wasteful ways, but I was not mentally prepared for this event. I was shocked when confronted directly with the back door of consumerism. I was stunned by the volume of stuff and by the waste. And it didn't stop all day. I directed a steady stream of cars and trucks to unload their unwanted stuff at the available dumpsters. As large trucks came and picked up full dumpsters and dropped off new empties, I lost track of how many were filled. We estimated 25-30 full containers were hauled away in about seven hours. And this was the smaller of two neighborhood dumping sites this day!

The average person does not often, if ever, see this view of our consumer society. Here is where it all ends -- all that stuff we buy. This is the end of the road for those old toasters, dolls, desks, lamps, toys, washers, dryers, freezers and hot water tanks. This is the cemetery for the old picket fence, the left over sheet rock, the old countertop and the no longer fashionable drapes. Johnny's first bicycle and Sally's once-loved stuffed animals are laid to rest here -- at the back door of consumerism.

Oh, sure much of this stuff was well-used and worn out. But many of the items that passed me by were perfectly serviceable -- some even brand new -- but no longer wanted. Some needed minor repairs -- but who has the time to repair anything anymore? Other items were perfectly useable, but technologically "obsolete" -- at least in the minds of the owners. As I stood there, hour after hour, watching truckload after truckload go by, I couldn't help but think of pictures I've seen on television of people in third world countries who scrounge their daily needs from dump sites. What a field day they would have at this Seattle neighborhood cleanup day.

Most of us know that Americans are the most wasteful people on earth. It takes a day like this, watching loads and loads of junk heading to its final resting place, to drive home the message. We read about our waste, but shrug our shoulders. What can we possibly do about it? Like most difficult problems, there are no easy answers. But there are things individuals can do.

First of all we can "PRE-cycle. Through simple living we soon find out that we really don't need most of the stuff we buy. The best way to keep our landfills from filling up, preserving the environment and protecting our limited natural resources is by not buying unneeded stuff in the first place. This sounds difficult in this consumer-oriented society, but it is possible. Simply stopping for a few seconds and asking yourself whether you really need an item prior to purchase and whether you will really be fulfilled (for more than a few days) by owning it, is a good place to start. You will probably be amazed at what you don't need or buy. Another step is simply don't go shopping!

Second, once you do own something, "wear it out and use it up" before you throw it out. Those wise words from our grandparents' generation still apply today. Repair broken things. Learn to do it yourself. Many items can be easily repaired. After all, if something is already broken, what can be lost by at least trying to fix it?

Third, if you need an item for a limited time or single use -- rent or borrow it, don't buy it. By renting, many people use items that an individual may only need once.

Finally, recycle. Stuff with life still in it can be recycled to charities with a "truck in your neighborhood," through garage or yard sales or by just plain giving it away. Put a "free" sign in front of your house or on the local bulletin board. Let some needy person "use it up" if you can't. Of course, for truly worn out stuff, recycle all metals, plastics, paper and glass to your local solid-waste service if possible.

As the neighborhood cleanup day wound down, I began to notice a few "salvaged" items set aside by volunteers, workers and passing "dumpster divers." A beautiful wooden desk, a set of barbells and new-looking stuffed animals all found new homes -- a second life. An old, worn, but still comfortable armchair seemed to wait eagerly for its next occupant. Maybe there is hope yet, I thought -- hope at the back door of consumerism.

© 1995 David A. Heitmiller