When we toss something “away,” it doesn’t just vanish. It lingers like a ghost, haunting landfills, polluting oceans, and leaving its mark on the planet. Out of sight does not mean out of existence. Every piece of waste tells a story, and too often that story ends in damage to our environment.
At Big Reuse, we work to change that story. Instead of letting items sit and waste away in landfills, we give them another chance. Reusing places items into new hands, giving them the opportunity to begin a new chapter.
The Real Scares of Throwing Things Away
The truth is scarier than any Halloween tale. In a city like New York, trash does not simply stay at the curb once it is collected. Much of it is sent far away to landfills or incinerators, creating pollution along the way and leaving the burden of our waste for disadvantaged communities to carry. When waste builds up, wildlife loses its habitat and countless species are put at risk. Plastic and other debris often end up in waterways where they harm birds, fish, and marine life.
The impact does not stop there. Overflowing garbage affects life right here at home, attracting pests and making neighborhoods less safe and less welcoming for families. Waste trucks constantly on the move bring more noise, traffic, and pollution into the places where we live. Plastic waste never truly disappears. It breaks down into tiny particles that can even make their way into the food we eat and the water we drink. What seems like just one bag of trash from your apartment or one item set on the curb becomes part of a much larger and much scarier chain reaction.
How Big Reuse Breaks the Cycle
Big Reuse’s Reuse Center (thrift store) in Gowanus keeps items out of landfills and in the community. Each year, our thrift store saves over 300,000 items - including books, home goods, furniture, and building materials, and more - so they can find new life. Our composting team collects food scraps and yard waste to be composted, creating a beneficial resource for NYC communities. Our work also extends into the community through programs like street tree care, helping to create a healthier and greener city for everyone.
Every item reused is one less ghost haunting the planet.
Join Us This Fall
You can volunteer at our Reuse Center, with our street tree care team, or with our composting team and be part of the movement HERE, or donate to Big Reuse to help keep reuse alive in New York City.
Blog Post written by NYSERDA Fellow Tatiana Guerra