First of all, I want to make clear that I am not talking about OCD or mental health extremes of these conditions. I mean the versions where one is either getting rid of most things or keeping most things intentionally, not obsessively.
Both minimalism and hoarding can be good or bad for the environment (and the wallet), depending on how they are practiced.
Minimalism
Let's start with Minimalism. Minimalists try to limit the number of material possessions they own. Sounds good for the environment, right?
Maybe. The problem is that minimalists may be more concerned with having less stuff, not with buying less stuff. They often have rules like one in, one out, which means every time they get something new, they have to get rid of something else. There are no limits set on how often they can swap things out. This could lead to an endless cycle of frequently buying new things and trashing perfectly good things. Not good for the environment!
Minimalism has several different angles that practitioners may focus on. One possible focus is to save money by buying less. That is usually better for the environment as well; in fact, an argument for sustainability is often that you save money by buying less.
However, some minimalists focus more on getting rid of stuff than on not bringing items into the home. They have something called the 20/20 rule. That means that if something can be replaced in less than 20 minutes for under 20 dollars, and you're not sure whether to keep it, you should go ahead and throw it away.
While this may seem reasonable if you have a lot of stuff that you don't use, if you don't have more stuff than you have spaces for, this seems wasteful. Sure, if you are pretty certain you won't use it, you should probably get rid of it, but if you think there is a chance you might use it, and you have room for it, the more sustainable option is to keep it, at least until you are convinced that you won't use it.
This brings up another point. Unless you were born into a minimalist family, (and most of us in the US were not) the beginning of the minimalist journey always seems to start with getting rid of stuff. But it doesn't say how.
There are sustainable ways to get rid of stuff, and there are unsustainable ways to get rid of stuff. And they're not always obvious.
The best way to get rid of something is to find another person who wants it. This could mean gifting it or selling it. This way you know it will go to a good home.
The next best way is to donate the item(s) to a thrift store or other organization that collects used items for reuse. This is where a lot of people start. However, just because you give something you think may still have value, that doesn't necessarily mean that someone else will want it.
There are millions of items donated every day, and a large portion of them still end up in the landfill. Some things are just unwanted, some things are never found by the right person who would want them, and some things are given away so often that the supply is much higher than the demand.
The next best way to get rid of stuff is to recycle it. In fact, sometimes recycling is better than donating. Reuse is preferable to recycling in most cases, but as I just mentioned, donations often end up in a landfill. If it is recyclable and in large supply at thrift stores, you may want to just go ahead and recycle it directly, especially if it's not in great condition.
Finally, we are left with the trash can. If all else fails, we must send the stuff we don't want to the landfill ( or incinerator). Unfortunately, and lot of people choose this option first. It's the easiest, and a lot of people just don't care.
So you see how minimalism can be good for the planet if practiced thoughtfully or bad for the planet if practiced without consideration for it. Now let's turn to hoarding.
Hoarding
I'm going to just say, if you're the kind of hoarder who buys everything new, then you're bad for the planet.
But many hoarders are just collectors of stuff that is given to them or that they pick up at thrift stores or other second hand venues.
It could be argued that it doesn't matter if it's not in a landfill if it's just collecting dust in someone's basement or attic.
This is true, but…There is such a thing as a generous hoarder. They have “too much” stuff, but they're willing to share it, either by gifting it or by selling it.
They are essentially doing the job of the thrift store.
They know exactly where everything is, and as soon as someone needs it, they are happy to provide.
This type of hoarder is actually good for the environment. They are saving things from the landfill and getting them into the hands of people who want them.
I personally have both minimalistic and hoarding tendencies. When I am on a hoarding streak, I don't buy new things. In fact, most of the stuff I take in is hand-me-downs from other people who are getting rid of stuff.
I usually hang on to it for a while, and then the minimalist in me takes over and I have a yard sale or take things to the thrift store.
I am not doing the environment any harm by storing stuff at my house for a little while. Some of the stuff I do actually use and appreciate.
It's when hoarders buy new things and/or hold on to everything too tightly that it becomes an issue.
So who is better for the planet, the frugal minimalist or the thrifty hoarder?
They're like yin and yang. If they both exist, they create a beautiful, sustainable cycle.
If only we could eliminate the less environmentally friendly types of these two extremes, we'd be in pretty good shape.
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