The reuse economy refers to an evolving environmental crisis that prioritizes the continuous use of products and materials instead of discarding them after one use. Rather than sending usable items to the landfill, the reuse economy encourages redistribution—typically through donation, resale, or repurposing—to extend the life of goods.
At it’s core, reuse relies on:
- Durability: Products should be built to last.
- Redistribution: What one person no longer needs can help another.
- Conscious Consumption: Buying less and donating more benefits everyone.
What is the Difference Between Reuse and Recycling?
While both reuse and recycling divert waste from landfills, they operate differently. Recycling breaks down used materials into raw components for manufacturing new products, often using significant energy. Reuse, on the other hand, keeps products in their original form and extends their life without additional processing.
For example, donating a gently used couch to a local charity is reuse. Melting down plastic bottles to make new ones? That’s recycling. Reuse is typically the more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly option.
Historical Roots of the Reuse Economy
The reuse economy isn’t new. For centuries, communities have engaged in hand-me downs, barter systems, and secondhand markets. It’s only in the past few decades—driven by consumerism and convenience—that disposability became the norm.
Now, with growing environmental awareness and the urgency of climate change, the reuse economy is making a comeback in modern, tech-powered ways. Organizations like ReSupply are at the forefront of operationalizing the reuse economy. Through intelligent logistics and nationwide charity partnerships, they help efficiently match unwanted household items with nonprofit needs.
How the Reuse Economy Works
The reuse economy thrives on a shift in consumer behavior. Instead of throwing away goods, individuals are encouraged to:
- Donate furniture, clothing, and electronics
- Shop secondhand or refurbished goods
- Repair instead of replace
The shift doesn’t require drastic lifestyle changes—just a conscious commitment to waste less and give more. While it may seem like donating a single T-shirt or chair doesn’t matter, the collective impact is significant.
Central Florida Goodwills alone diverted nearly 24 million pounds of donations from landfills in 2023. Across its U.S. network, Goodwill International handles approximately 4.6 billion pounds of reusable items annually—highlighting the immense scale of reuse in action.
Through partnerships with thousands of nonprofits nationwide, ReSupply helps make donating easier for individuals—and ensures more usable items find a second life instead of ending up in the landfill.
Misconceptions About the Reuse Economy
“Nobody wants my old stuff.” (False—there’s almost always a need!)
“Donating is too much work.” (Not when you book a donation pickup with ReSupply.)
“Secondhand means low quality.” (Many donated items are gently used or like new.)
“Recycling is better for the economy.” (Actually, less than 9% of plastic is recycled. With reuse, you know that your goods won’t go to the landfill.)
Why the Reuse Economy Matters Today
Donating is a great way to contribute to the reuse economy, and has benefits for the environment and community as well.
Environmental Benefits: Reducing Waste and Emissions
Every item donated instead of dumped means one less contribution to the landfill. This results in:
- Reduced methane emissions from landfills: Municipal solid waste landfills in the US released 3.7 million metric tons of methane in 2021, equivalent to the CO₂ pollution of 66 million cars per year.
- Less pollution from new product manufacturing: It takes 3 times as much water to make a plastic bottle as the bottle itself holds.
- Conservation of resources like water and minerals: For example, in the EU if 50% of packaging was reusable by 2030 for the food and drink on-the-go, e-commerce and household care sectors, this would save 3.7 tonnes MT of CO2, 10 billion cubic metres of water and 28 MT of waste per year.
According to the EPA, in 2018 alone, containers and packages amounted to 82.2 million tons of municipal solid waste. The potential for change through reuse is enormous. Additionally, only about 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, while 79% ends up in landfills or the environment. This underscores why reuse—which avoids reprocessing entirely—is often more environmentally beneficial than recycling.
Economic Impact: Affordability and Local Job Creation
The reuse economy isn’t just eco-friendly—it’s economically savvy. From an economic perspective, there are many benefits, including:
- Supports local economies by creating community hubs like donation centers and thrift stores
- Offers affordable food and supplies to low-income families
- Reduces household expenses for participants
By recirculating items instead of creating demand for new ones, reuse also alleviates pressure on global supply chains. To put these practices into action—recycling creates an average of nine times more jobs than trash. And reuse? It creates as many 30 times more jobs than landfills.
To further this line of thinking, according to the EPA’s 2020 Recycling Economic Information (REI) Report, recycling and reuse activities in the U.S. contribute significantly to the national economy. These efforts are responsible for generating 681,000 jobs, $37.8 billion in wages, and $5.5 billion in tax revenues. Overall, the industry drives $117 billion in annual economic activity, translating to about 1.17 jobs for every 1,000 tons of materials processed.
So not only are you acting more environmentally conscious when you recycle or reuse, but you economically benefit your community.
Social Good: Supporting Communities and Nonprofits
Donated goods often go directly to nonprofits, helping them serve community needs without stretching their budgets. Through donations, the reuse economy can help to:
- Equip shelters with furniture: Approximately 14% of low-income households need furniture.
- Stock food banks with cookware: In 2021, over 53 million people—nearly one in six Americans—used food banks, food pantries, or meal programs according to feedingamerica.org.
- Provide job training through resale shops: In 2021, nearly 2 million people received services from Goodwill to help grow their careers, and more than 123,000 people were placed into jobs in the U.S.
- Provide resources to charities in local communities: Keeping charities supplied with donated goods can help provide critical resources that enable their missions.
How Can You Participate in the Reuse Economy?
Want to join the movement? Start here:
- Walk through your home with fresh eyes and look for items in good condition that you no longer use. Not sure what to part with? Try this trick: Turn all your hangers in the closet to face the opposite direction. Each time you wear an item, return it with the hanger facing the normal way. At the end of the season, any hanger still facing the original direction signals an item you didn’t use—making it a great candidate for donation.
- Bundle donations to maximize impact in one pick-up.
- Schedule a pickup through ReSupply to ensure your goods can be picked up on your timeline—no preparation or hassle needed. Rest assured that your donations will be delivered to local charities from our nationwide network of nonprofit partners.
A More Sustainable Future Starts With You
The reuse economy is more than a trend—it’s a necessary shift in how we treat our resources, our planet, and each other. Whether you’re donating an old desk, supporting a local thrift shop, or just making more mindful choices, your actions matter.
ReSupply is here to make that journey easier, faster, and more impactful. So the next time you’re ready to part with something, don’t toss it—donate it through ReSupply.
Schedule your donation pickup with ReSupply and give your items a second life where they’re needed most. Call (617) 917-9625 or book online by clicking below.
