Treasure Hunting

The pursuit of the unknown, the promise of discovery, and the excitement of free stuff all come together at New Hanover County’s Treasure Island. The brainchild of SARA DOUSHARM, who is environmental education coordinator for New Hanover County Recycling and Solid Waste, Treasure Island is a free monthly “shop” of usable items salvaged from waste streams that come to the New Hanover County landfill and recycling facilities. The warehouse, at 3002 Highway 421 North in Wilmington, is an inspiration to reduce, reuse, repair, rethink, repurpose, and recycle before throwing something away. 

“My dad is a retired park ranger,” Dousharm says. “I grew up living in state parks and have always loved nature and the environment and being outside. I knew my career would be related to those things.”  

Dousharm studied biology with a concentration in conservation at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. “Biology was a good pathway to conservation, which led me to become an educator with a focus on habitat preservation, waste management, and soil conservation,” she says. Adding to her formal education, Dousharm has been an avid thrift and yard sale shopper her entire life. 

In her role with the county, Dousharm is involved with the Garbage to Gardens school cafeteria composting program and has worked in the Recycling and Solid Waste department at the New Hanover County landfill for two years.  

“The New Hanover County landfill has limited capacity with only about 20 years until it is full,” she says. “There is no other suitable property to construct a future landfill in our county. I hate to see things go to waste, especially things that are still in good working condition.”  

And so Treasure Island was born, named by Dousharm’s colleague, ANNE MCALLISTER. The name is a nod to Eagle Island, N.C., on Highway 421 just down the road from the recycling facility and the landfill—and a hint of what to expect at monthly sales.

Recycling and Solid Waste staff at the landfill’s trash drop-off site, the household hazard waste team, and the roadside litter crew keep their eyes out for items in good condition. These treasures are pulled aside and moved to a garage where they are sorted and housed until the public openings on the second Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to noon. 

“So far, the program has been a great success,” Dousharm says, adding that Treasure Island also accepts donations of items in good working condition. “Treasure hunters waited in line at 9 a.m. at the first sale held in July. It’s been really fun with good positive vibes. Shoppers were excited to be there, and those who brought items were excited to know someone else could use them.”

At the first opening, 380 items were rehomed. At the second opening in August, 480 items were rehomed.   

Dousharm says you never know what you will find at Treasure Island. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The majority of things pulled and staged by staff are larger items like bikes, power tools and patio furniture. One of the most unique items we sold was a vintage Abercrombie & Fitch picnic basket set. And we had a whole family of skeletons for Halloween. That was a fun one. We had a canoe from a family moving out of state who said they couldn’t take it with them. All of those items found new homes,” she says. 

Dousharm walks the talk. She estimates that ninety percent of her house is decorated with secondhand items such as vintage Sears Roebuck Merry Mushroom canisters, Pyrex dishes, and countless botanical illustrations of birds, bugs, and flowers. Ninety percent of her wardrobe is secondhand.  

Dousharm’s hope is that everyone will eventually understand that there is no such thing as “away” when you throw something in the trash can. “It’s going somewhere,” she says. “The average person doesn’t get to see the end life of the things they throw away. Trash just gets picked up by a truck. But it all goes to a landfill. I hope Treasure Island inspires people to think about what other options they have before throwing something away. 

“This program is an exciting treasure hunt,” she says. “It’s hard to expect someone to drop everything to adopt a zero waste lifestyle, but I hope people can feel inspired to repurpose or give away not throw away. Little things add up and make an impact like sewing a patch on your ripped jeans to wear them longer.”

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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