About Reuserism

 The 2009 Experiment: Reuserism

Hi, I’m Simon Carr

I have a New Year’s resolution for 2009; I am going to try to buy as few new physical item during 2009 as possible.  If I can pull it off, I will buy nearly nothing that is new.

• I won’t create more physical waste through purchases of goods.
• I’ll save some money.
• I’ll add some additional value to an item that’s already made and is most likely perfectly usable. 

 

Reuserism rather than consumerism. So as an avid Reuser, I will keep the Reuser economy alive and kicking during this carefully crafted “economic downturn”.

The idea is not to languish in some stoic temple of immaterialism, but rather to buy quality while reducing waste and reusing goods.  I can still buy stuff.  I can replace a laptop if it dies, or get a new phone, or pick up some Blu-ray discs, but, they have to be previously owned.  Used.  

I can also buy digital media online, moving further into the virtual field. 

Many of us strive to maintain a sustainable environment on Earth as best we can.  If we practice Reuserism and reduce the amount of goods we throw away or recycle, we can save energy, money, and landfill space.  

Recycling should be the second-last stop a physical, man made item takes in it’s lifespan (the last being the landfill, if it comes to that).  Our primary goals should be to try to Reduce and Reuse, before we throw something into the blue bin.  

Some simple examples of Reuserism, and being a Reuser.

 

Reusing Goods

• Buy a used Diesel economy car rather than a new Prius as your next vehicle purchase.  Hybrids are great, but creating another car may not be the best option with so many used cars already in play.
• Use your Travel Mug (I know you have one!)
• Make your next computer upgrade second-hand.  Computer turnover does not match increments in the power of the technology anymore.  You will be able to do nearly as much with a used laptop from the last couple of years as you will with a shiny new beast right from Dell.  My example is a bit extreme, but it also can be done. 

 

 

Buy Quality

• Invest in good, reusable grocery totes.  They’re stronger than plastic anyway.
• Get a damn good water bottle.  Spend the money on a Klean Kanteen or a Sigg.  They aren’t cheap, but they will pay for themselves after less than a month of use if you regularly buy bottled water, and you won’t get any synthetic estrogen with your H2O.
• Go out and buy that insanely expensive bag that you know you’re going to use forever.

 

 

Challenging Items

I will have to cheat on the following items, likely forever, so I’m not going to hold myself over the coals for buying these things new;

 

• Socks and underwear
• Jeans, shoes, t-shirts
• Un-refurbishable parts like laptop batteries and filters

 
This page will continue to evolve, I will post blog items about challenges I will face along the way, and how I will overcome obstacles or streamline my usage. 

I am taking live feedback via Twitter on this page, so please, send some in!