N4L 116: "Secondhand" by Adam Minter

SUMMARY

Coming from a long line of junk dealers, Adam Minter explores the “afterlife” of billions of tons of used goods in his second book, Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale. Minter evaluates both the monetary and emotional value of things that we use then give away. Sobering and hopeful at the same time, his findings unveil why we feel both repelled and pulled toward used goods. His travels throughout the world lead him to vintage shops in Tokyo, used -goods enterprises in Ghana, and thrift stores in the American Southwest—all of which play a part in the multibillion-dollar reuse industry.

KEY POINTS/STATISTICS

Hoarders contribute to the unhealthy side of consumption, contributing to the surplus of environmental waste. “Cleanouts” can be very painful because the process breaks bonds with things, stripping a person of who he is and rendering him almost anonymous. Mini-storage units are proliferating rapidly to meet the ever-growing demand from Americans for space to store their stuff, with the rental cost per square foot often exceeding that of their homes. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in 2015, Americans tossed out 24.1 billion pounds of furniture and furnishings—a flood yet to crest. “Shoddy” – word assigned to low-quality wool textile recycled from earlier wool Small secondhand shops are often the dominant form of commerce across rural towns in Southeast Asia. Africa is the largest market for secondhand clothes globally. Older consumers are less willing to buy fast-fashion clothing, but the online fashion reseller thredUP is finding millennials are the demographic most likely to discard a garment after one to five wearings. Thirty percent of clothing tossed out in the U.S. is turned into rags, which are especially useful to big industries such as oil and gas; hotels, bars, and restaurants; auto manufacturers; painters; and healthcare. Goodwill began in Boston as a retraining program for wayward youth. Asians have a high reverence for Japan’s reputation for excellent manufacturing and design. Pyrex has become highly collectible among younger Americans with some pieces selling for thousands of dollars. 

QUOTES FROM MINTER

“The world is filled with more things than at any time in history.” “Americans are prone to keep things longer, and sometimes value them more than they value themselves.” “The things that we buy tend to create [an] identity for us….We build up who we are by the things that we acquire.” “People value the things that they saw as children. We’re all kind of nostalgic in our hearts.”

BUY Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale

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