Revealed: the dark side of Marie Kondo

Devotees of Marie Kondo are decluttering at such a rapid rate that charities can’t keep up with the deluge. So what are the alternatives to landfill?

Charities can’t keep up with the donation tsunami. Picture: Renae Droop

Marie Kondo admits she loves mess. The author of The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying Up and Spark Joy has made an international name for herself as the queen of decluttering. While her books are bestsellers, it’s her new Netflix series, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo that’s causing a stir.

The show, where she helps American households sort through their things to only keep that which “sparks joy” in their lives, has inspired many here in Australia to get stuck into clearing out things we don’t want or need. And it’s causing a headache for charities.

A garage sale can clear the clutter and make you a buck to boot

Such has been the success of the series that many charities have been inundated with unwanted clothing to the point where charity bins are overflowing and some charities have stopped accepting donations.

What they can’t use, such as poor quality clothing and broken or badly warn furniture, they have to pay to dispose of.

And the costs are adding up with estimates at $13 million annually.

Marketing and communications manager for Bower Reuse & Repair Centre, Caroline Ayling, says the series has landed at an already busy time for clearing out the house.

Caroline Ayling at Bower Reuse & Repair. Picture: AAP Image/ Justin Sanson

“It’s that time of year — Christmas generates so much waste,” Caroline says. “Australians love to donate to second-hand shops and charities but we are not keeping pace. The supply of goods to charities and second-hand shops is outstripping demand.”

She says part of the problem is that traditionally, we like to buy new rather than second-hand, although that is beginning to shift.

“With council clean-ups, there is quite a positive culture of ‘street bounty’ emerging but anything left has to be cleared up by council and that’s going to landfill,” she says.

While it’s inevitable that any decluttering process is going to leave you with some unusable goods, with a little thought, there are ways of minimising the rubbish pile, and even earning a little money along the way.

A car boot sale can make for a fun family day out.

The whole family can get involved in an old-school garage sale. Alternatively, you can hire a stall at one of the many regular second-hand markets or car boot sales around the state.

Gumtree, Trading Post and eBay offer online marketplaces where you can even specify local pick up.

If you’d just like your things to go to a good home, there are still plenty of charities and not-for-profit organisations looking for quality goods. Consider passing on your kids’ well-cared-for old toys to the local childcare centre or after-school service provider (call ahead first).

Not all charities have put a hold on donations. Refugee organisations, domestic violence services and lesser known church groups can accept anything from quality clothing to white goods.

Donate or sell? Second hand books can always find a home.

Literacy foundations often also appreciate books in good condition. Caroline says furniture tends to sell well at the Bower.

“A lot of the furniture we sell is sturdy and built to last, which is harder to find these days,” she says. “We don’t accept chipboard because it’s non-recyclable — it has such a short lifespan.”

The Bower Reuse & Repair Centre at Marrickville will collect your quality goods for free in many Sydney council areas. See the website  for a full list of items it does and doesn’t accept. It also has a comprehensive reuse database with locations for dropping off everything from unwanted hardware to used toys and even mattresses.