Recycling danger

I have just visited the clothes recycling container in my local area of Galluzzo, located in the Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy. My daughter seems to be growing at an astonishing rate, almost as if she is defying the normal passage of time. It is remarkable how quickly her clothes become too small for her -- the giants that are the next generation.

The recycling bin is a large, sturdy metal box specifically designed for the collection of used clothes, bags, and shoes. It is painted in a bright, eye-catching colour and is situated in a very convenient spot off the pavement, facing into the road, along the bus lane. :) Its position makes it easily accessible to residents passing by, although it is not without a bit of risk when dropping off items. Earlier today, I had a rather close call with traffic as I quickly deposited a bag – it felt like my backside was nearly grazed by a passing bus!

It probably didn't help that I was talking to my dad on my mobile at the time, catching up with his Christmas antics whilst posting the bag through the hatch. Besides, today’s contribution was only a small bag of clothes, which I packed into a reusable shopping bag from Esselunga, our local supermarket just four minutes away from our home. Esselunga is incredibly handy for day-to-day essentials, although its main competitor, the larger COOP supermarket, is a bit further away in Scandicci (amazing at Christmas!) Both serve as essential hubs for groceries and supplies, but Esselunga has become my go-to for convenience.

Perfect match

The recycling bin itself is designed to be easy to use. It has a large bar at the front that you pull down to open the hatch, where you can drop your items securely inside. There is something satisfying about the simplicity and functionality of the system. You pull, deposit, and let go – the items are taken care of, and you leave knowing you have contributed to a more sustainable cycle of reuse and recycling. My sanctimonious self appreciating the effort I have made but probably won't make for another 3 months.

Sorted.

It feels good to know that these clothes, shoes, and bags will potentially find new lives with someone else or be repurposed in an environmentally friendly way. It is a small but meaningful action that helps our community and reduces waste, and it gives me a sense of organisation and purpose to know that everything is now sorted and that there's a little less clutter in the house, but no doubt more to add once the January Sales shopping is done. Less is more unless it's a donation to a clothes bank.