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Post Office, Dilly Carter Launch 'Autumn Purge' Tool as Survey Finds 17 Unused Items per Brit

The campaign steers sellers to the Post Office’s 11,500 branches for simple drop-offs.

Overview

  • A OnePoll survey of 2,000 UK adults reports the average person owns 17 items they no longer use.
  • Commonly hoarded categories include old technology (51%), old shoes (43%) and unread books (38%).
  • Seasonal habits drive clear-outs, with 16% decluttering in September and 22% before Black Friday and Christmas.
  • During a tidy-up, 51% look to sell on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or Vinted, and 54% say they recycle unwanted goods.
  • Key barriers to selling include the effort involved (31%) and low perceived value (30%), while 32% say decluttering delivers a strong mental health boost.