Decluttering Benefits Everyone!

Donating your excess stuff to needy charities accomplishes several worthwhile goals, and ways to “repair the world:”

• Helps those in need

• Diverts hundreds of tons from landfills each year

• Gives you a tax-deduction

• Allows products to be used to their fullest extent

• Gives you more space in your home, creating a more relaxing and stress-free environment

 

DONATIONS AND RECYCLING

General Donations:

1. Salvation Army

   1. Schedule a pick-up truck - https://satruck.org/  

2. Goodwill

   1. Recycles clothing it doesn't distribute; has donation value guide for tax deductions.

   2. Pick-ups by Veteran-led company, ReSupply (fee-based)

3. Green Drop

   1. Check out what they will and won’t accept

   2. Free pickup (see if there’s a location near you)

   3. Benefits several non-profits including the American Red Cross, Purple Heart Foundation, and several local organizations

4. Habitat for Humanity - ReStores–

   1. See if they have free pickups in your area

   2. Accepts both new and gently used household items and building materials, including furniture and appliances

   3. Proceeds support Habitat for Humanity charitable work

5. Purple Heart Foundation

   1. Accepts donation of clothing and vehicles

6. Amvets

   1. Operates in Maryland, Washington DC, Northern Virginia, Texas (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio), Delaware, and Oklahoma

   2. Check out their restrictions on pickups

 

Shelters – contact the one nearest you for a wish list:

1. Homeless Shelters Directory

2. Domestic Shelters – has online wish list

3. National Women’s Shelter Network – wish list; find a shelter near you

 

Animal Shelters:

1. Donations: unopened pet food and treats, sturdy toys, towels and blankets, cleaning supplies like bleach and paper towels, and durable items like leashes, collars, crates, and carriers

2. Petfinder – search for shelters and rescues near you

3. Best Friends - made up of thousands (and counting) of shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations in all 50 states

4. Chewy – find a local rescue; also, online wish list

 

Specific Items:

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Batteries and Bulbs.

1. Batteries + Bulbs.  Responsible recycling of batteries, light bulbs, small electronics (cell phones, chargers, tablets, laptops) – small fees may apply.

2. Call2Recycle.  Find a store near you (includes some Home Depots) – recycles batteries and cell phones

3. RecycleABulb.com – enter your zip for a location near you; recycles energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

4. Lowes. The recycling center (usually near the entrance) accepts plastic bags, CFL bulbs, rechargeable batteries, and cellphones.

5. Earth 911.  Enter your zip code to find a recycling center near you

 

Bikes

1. Bikes for the World – make a $10 donation to defray expenses - Usable bicycle spare parts, components and accessories, including tubes, tires, wheels, chains, pedals, helmets, pumps

2. Working Bikes.com.  Operates in the Midwest, including Chicago.

3. Community Bicycle Organizations. A list of co-ops in every state. From there, you’ll need to research to figure out if and when your local co-op takes bike donations, and what the stipulations are.

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Books/Magazines 

1. Public Libraries –drop off at any branch

2. American Libraries Association- good guide to where you can donate books, and other useful info

3. Operation Paperback- collects gently used books and sends them to American troops overseas, as well as veterans and military families here at home

4. Vietnam Veterans of America – they will pick up boxed books

5. BookMooch allows users to exchange books using a points system

6. Reader to Reader, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to expanding literacy and learning opportunities for the nation’s most chronically underserved and vulnerable communities, including inner-city schools, Native American reservations, and rural public libraries.

7. Better World Books- is a for-profit, socially conscious online bookseller that collects and sells new and used books to fund literacy initiatives worldwide

8. 2nd and Charles – buy, sell books, CDs, records, comics

9. Kids Need to Read - A non-profit organization that sponsors various programs to help get books into the hands of young children in underserved communities

 

Building Materials, Working Appliances and Furnishings

1. Habitat for Humanity- ReStore. Accepts new and gently used appliances, furniture, building materials, household goods, home decor and more

2. Resource Central only in Boulder, Colorado.  Accepts home improvement donations like cabinets, lighting, doors, and windows

 

Bras (New and Gently Used)

1. Bra Recyclers – accept regular bras, sports bras, nursing bras, new with tag or in the package women’s panties and men’s boxers and briefs

 

Career Clothes

1. Dress For Success – help unemployed women with the resources they need in their journeys toward economic mobility.

2. Jails to Jobs - dedicated to equipping previously incarcerated and soon-to-be released men and women with the tools and resources needed to find employment and successfully re-enter the workforce.

 

Cars (many also accept other types of vehicles like boats and motorcycles)

1. Wheels for Wishes – benefits Make a Wish Foundation

2. American Freedom Donations- a 501(c)(3) veterans’ charity, honors, serves and supports Veterans, military service members, and their families

3. Vehicles for Veterans - supports disabled veterans and other causes for our nation's veterans including health and wellness, employment, medical care, disability, pension, and housing

4. Kars for Kids - gives children the opportunities and support they need to develop into productive members of their communities, including educational services, youth mentorship and development, community and family outreach and cultural events.

5. Purple Heart - 888-414-4483, or form here

6. Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA).  Call JSSA's Car Donation Hotline at 301.585.CARS (2277) for free pickup. Provide the signed title and car keys - receive a tax-deduction letter in the mail once car is sold.

 

Cell Phones

1. Cell Phones for Soldiers-  Provides free communication services and emergency funding to active-duty military members and veterans.

2. Big Sky Recycling - dedicated to reducing e-waste and using profits to support environmental, domestic violence and military nonprofits.

3. 911 Cellphone Bank – Keeps recyclable materials out of landfills, protect your personal information, and support survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence

4. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence - Partners with Cellular Recycler to provide phones to domestic abuse victims

5. More than a Phone – Partners with domestic violence programs across the country to provide free smartphones and data service to survivors

6. MOMS Organic Market.- Purpose – to protect and restore the environment ; accepts daily – cell phones, compost, eyeglasses, shoes, oyster shells.

 

Clothes Hangers

1. Wire: dry cleaners accept wire hangers;

2. Plastic – thrift stores

 

Computers/Electronics

1. Staples. Will wipe data from old computers (free) according to US Dept. of Defense guidelines; accepts donations of electronics – see website for list. No appliances, kitchen electronics, TVs. Limit 7 items per customer per day.

2. Best Buy. Free recycling - see website for lists. Up to 3 items per household per day.

3. Computers 4 People - Accepts laptops, smartphones, and tablets at over 10,000 FedEx and Walgreens locations across the U.S. for free

4. Computers with Causes - repair, refurbish, and properly prepare donated computers for placement into an educational environment; helps students, teachers, parents, the elderly, foster homes, shelters, the disabled, USA veterans, military families and children of fallen patriots, other nonprofit organizations,

 

Crafts  

1. National Crayon Recycle Program recycles unwanted, rejected, broken crayons into new crayons, keeping thousands of pounds out of landfills

2. Creative Reuse Centers - accept donations of materials like fabric, art supplies, and craft materials, list of national locations

3. Creative Kindness Foundation - mission is to help people find happiness and healing through the creation and donation of handmade gifts

 

Eyeglasses and Hearing Aids

1. Lions Club – Find a club near you to donate eyeglasses and hearing aids

   1. Vision Centers: look for Lions Club donation boxes at Walmart Vision Centers, Sears Optical, BJ's Optical,  all accept glasses donations

2. Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington Low Vision Learning Centers

   1. Hearing Aid Project - providing hearing aids to low-income individuals on a national scale

3. Lenscrafters, Pearle Vision,– drop off glasses; they work with the OneSight Foundation to provide glasses to needy populations

4. Costco works with Assist International- look for boxes at their optical department

5. VSP Vision/Eyes of Hope - offers multiple programs for charitable partners, optometric associations, and schools of optometry to support increased access to vision care for adults and children in need.

 

Fabric

1. Quilts of Valor. Makes handmade quilts for veterans. new or unused 100% cotton quilting weight fabric, prefer red, white, and blue colors. Location search available, locations in Burke and Alexandria.

 

Furniture

1. Habitat for Humanity – high priority items: appliances, furniture (especially home desks and office chairs), book, DVDs

2. ReSupply – (fee-based) giving is simple with next-day, at-home donation pickups, delivered to your local charities

3. AmVets - picks up gently used clothing, household items, and furniture which are then sold at our local area thrift stores, benefitting U.S. Veterans

4. Salvation Army and Goodwill – may be fee-based pick-up – call your local store to check

 

Household Hazardous Waste

1. EPA Guide to Hazardous Waste Recycling and Disposal - Search for your local HHW facility: Most counties have permanent HHW collection centers, and many also hold temporary events. Search for "household hazardous waste disposal near me" or check your county's waste management website

2. PaintCare – search on your zip code, accepts paint and selected hazardous materials

3. National Association of Boards of Pharmacies - Disposing of drugs safely prevents misuse and harm to the environment

 

Junk Removal Services

1. 1-800-Got-Junk - Clean-out service. 1-800-468-5865. Online booking. Price Quote online or call 1-800-468-5865. Offers same-day service, price based on volume.

2. College Hunks Hauling Junk. Moving, junk removal, donation pick-ups, labor.

3. JDog Junk Removal & Hauling- Empowers Veterans by offering an eco-friendly residential and commercial junk removal.

4. JunkLuggers - eco-friendly junk removal company committed to providing an elevated customer experience and bettering our environment and communities

 

Medical Equipment

1. Project C.U.R.E. - delivers life-saving medical equipment, supplies and services to meet the needs of people in poverty, disasters, and violence

2. Medical Bridges - repurpose surplus medical supplies and equipment to provide aid to underserved communities around the world

3. Donate Good Stuff - best overall resource for finding an organization near you, anywhere in the US that accepts medical supplies and equipment

4. Samaritan's Purse/World Medical Mission - supports mission hospitals by providing equipment, supplies, and technical support

 

Medicines

1. Walgreens safely disposes of unwanted, unused or expired medications through a Safe Medication Disposal Kiosk in their stores

2. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) – has a Drug Disposal Locator Tool for permanent drug disposal boxes in your area

3. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and a search for year round disposal options

 

Musical Instruments

1. Local public school music departments

2. Hungry for Music – Their mission is putting quality musical instruments in the hands of children who demonstrate a desire to learn music, and come from economically challenged backgrounds

3. Acoustic for a Change - Distributes instruments to underserved kids, veterans, and non-profits through local drop-off sites or their national program

4. Pianos for Education.  Accepts piano donations in good working order must meet quality criteria, if accepted they will pick up.

5. Beethoven Foundation. Offers free pickup if they accept the donation.  Provides scholarships to musically talented individuals.

6. Half Steps Music Foundation - a nonprofit that reconditions used musical instruments and donates them to organizations for the advancement, education, and benefits of performing arts, music education, and music therapy

7. Instrumental Horizons - donates musical instruments and services to communities in the United States and around the world

 

Papers – Shredding

1. Staples, Office Depot, UPS Store (fees)

2. Shred Nations - a national network, connecting you with over 6,000 local drop-off and mobile shredding providers across the country

3. Iron Mountain: provides secure, certified shredding services for both businesses and residential customers, including recurring service options.

4. Shred America: A veteran-owned company with a national reach, offering both drop-off and on-site document destruction services.

 

Plastic Bags.

Do not put plastic bags in your recycling trash containers as they cause damage to the recycling facility machines.

1. Recycle plastic bags by taking them to a local grocery store

2. Retailer-sponsored programs: Many large retail chains, including Walmart and Target, have in-store collection bins for plastic bags and other flexible plastic packaging.

3. NexTrex -  partners with many chains and grassroots locations across the country, and its searchable drop-off directory is a great way to find a participating store near you.

 

Shoes

1. Soles4Souls partners with Zappos – free shipping, you box it, they give you prepaid shipping label

2. Sneakers for Good - free sneaker reuse and recycling program helps keep your running shoes out of landfills while supporting local causes and families all over the world

3. Samaritan’s Feet - a humanitarian aid organization that serves and inspires hope by providing shoes to those in need around the world

4. DSW Gives - Bring new or gently worn shoes to any DSW store and place them in the donation box, and if you’re a DSW VIP member you earn points toward a future purpose.

5. Nike – customer take-back program for old Nike shoes; they also collect any brand shoes for recycling or donation

6. GotSneakers - an organization dedicated to recycling sneakers and keeping them from landfills. Request a free clean out bag and pre-paid shipping labels, drop off at any FedEx or UPS location

 

Sports Equipment

1. Level The Playing Field - LPF gives underprivileged children the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of youth sports participation by donating used and excess sport equipment to programs and schools serving low-income communities.

2. PickUp Please/Vietnam Veterans of America - Non-profit accepts almost any used sporting goods – snowboards, skis, helmets, soccer balls, baseball mitts, and more- will pick up.

3. Pitch In for Baseball - provides gear to increase youth participation in under-resourced areas across the country, and helps international communities establish programs when access to equipment is limited

4. Turn Two for Youth -  a non-profit organization that provides new and gently used baseball equipment to underprivileged communities around the world

 

Sneakers

1. GotSneakers is an organization dedicated to recycling sneakers and keeping them from landfills. Request a free clean out bag and pre-paid shipping labels. Fil up the bag and drop off at any FedEx or UPS location.

2. Nike Move to Zero. Bring your old Nike shoes or sports apparel to a participating Nike store for recycling.

3. Women’s shelters, Purple Heart, Goodwill, Salvation Army

 

Textile/Old Clothing Recycling: what to do with worn out, torn and stained clothes and linens

1. Goodwill Textile Salvage Operation. With clothing donations that are unsalable, Goodwill bales them and sells them as textile salvage, which then goes to countries in Latin America and Africa.

2. ReTold Recycling – small fee for them to send a bag for you to fill and send back

3. Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul, Savers or other Thrift Stores will recycle any textile that is not sellable in their stores

4. Animal Shelters – for linens, towels, blankets

 

Wedding Dresses

1. Adorned in Grace – they fight human trafficking through the sale of donated wedding and formal dresses

2. Angel Gown program turns donated wedding dresses into free beautiful burial gowns for infants who pass away during their hospital stay.

3. Brides Across America. Gifts weddings and wedding gowns to our military & first responders

4. Brides Against Breast Cancer. Gowns are sold at a discount; proceeds go toward breast cancer research.

5. Brides for a Cause -  a nonprofit organization that collects and resells wedding dresses to support charity

6. Fairy Tale Brides - “Empowering women one dress at a time.”  Sell used wedding gowns and bridal accessories at discount; proceeds go to women’s charities (Suited for Change, Victims’ Rights)

7. Wish Upon A Wedding – supports couples facing terminal illness or other medical and life challenges by providing everything for a wedding from engagement photos, to wedding attire, to food and locations

 

Wigs

1. American Cancer Society Ever You Program – supplies wigs for cancer patients

2. EBeauty Community for Cancer Support. Wig donations for women undergoing cancer treatments

3. Locks of Love – accepts donation of real hair 10 inches long or longer to make wigs for financially disadvantaged children free of charge

4. Wigs for Kids - nonprofit organization that provides wigs and support services to children ages 3 to 18 at no charge

5. Hair We Share -   provides free, human hair wigs to those facing medical hair loss

6. Soul Ryeders -  provides high-quality wigs and practical tips for managing the issues surrounding cancer-related hair loss. In addition, The Wig Exchange provides a meaningful way for women to recycle their gently used wigs while helping others facing cancer

 

Yarn and Knitted Hats, Blankets, Scarves

1. Project Linus –  provides handmade blankets to children 0-18 in the United States who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need; hosts events where you can knit the blankets

2. Warmth for Warriors -  providing active duty and retired veterans with handmade, warm, wool hats and other comfort items

3. Wool-Aid - Group that knits/crochets blankets, hats, mittens, scarves for various charities around the world including Syria, Nepal, Afghanistan, and the U.S.  If you have any yarn you don't need, contact 

4. Retirement homes/senior centers often accept donations of yarn for their residents’ knitting clubs.

 

TRADE IN FOR CASH OR STORE CREDIT

1. Amazon Trade-In – offers rebate or discount on new items, focuses on electronics

2. American Eagle Outfitters.  Recycle your old jeans at any store and get $10 off a new pair.

3. Bank My Cell – buy back program for cell phones that gives you cash for your old devices

4. Crossroads – Request a bag and we’ll send you a roomy one with a pre-paid return shipping label; get cash or credit at Crossroads store – check out their Selling Guide for what they’ll accept

5. Eileen Fisher Renew. Receive $5 store credit per piece (no matter what condition) when you return your Eileen Fisher clothes to any store.

6. Game Stop - Trade in your favorite games, controllers, systems, & mobile devices for cash & trade credit

7. H&M Loop Program. Bring any unwanted clothes or textiles, by any brand and in any condition, to the H&M store to the register and receive a thank-you coupon for your next purchase

8. Levi Strauss Trade In Program. Drop your old Levi jeans at selected stores for recycling and get a store credit.

9. LuLu Lemon. Bring your gear to a participating store and exchange for store credit

10. Madewell and JCrew. For every pair of old jeans or other denim clothing item, you get $20 toward the next purchase.

11. North Face Take-Back. Bring your unwanted North Face garments to any store, and they’ll give you a $10 credit. They clean, fix, and update the items for resale

12. Patagonia. Trade in Patagonia clothing and gear that’s in good condition at a store or by mail ($7 fee) and receive store or online credit

 

RESALE AND CONSIGNMENTS

Re-Sale Outlets:

1. Amazon -  sell on Amazon

2. AptDeco - online marketplace that eliminates the hassle of buying and selling furniture

3. Bookfinder – sell your college textbooks

4. Buffalo Exchange – women’s and men’s clothes, accessories to sell and buy/trade

5. Chairish - curated online marketplace for high-end vintage home furnishings and art

6. DePop -  a platform for secondhand and vintage items with an edge

7. Ebay

8. Etsy

9. Facebook Marketplace

10. Freecycle - (free)   

11. Kaiyo – used furniture

12. Mercari – sells just about everything that can be shipped    

13. NextDoor

14. Plato’s Closet - buys and sells gently used, brand-name clothing, shoes, and accessories for teens and young adults, sellers get cash; must bring in to store

15. Poshmark – focuses on more high-end clothing for men, women, and kids

16. OfferUp

17. Replacements – china, crystal, silverware, collectables

18. The RealReal - Sustainable Luxury Made Simple — The World's Largest & Most Trusted Marketplace for Authenticated, Consigned Luxury Goods

19. ThredUp - online consignment and thrift store

20. Uptown Cheapskate - receive immediate cash or earn 25% more in store credit

21. Vestiaire Collective (formerly Tradesy) - online consignment shop that resells luxury brands and designer items for men’s and women’s clothing, children’s clothing, and accessories like bags and jewelry

 

Estate Sale Online Auctions

1. Auction.com - nation's largest online marketplace for foreclosure and bank-owned real estate auctions.

2. AuctionNinja -popular platform for finding and bidding on local and national online estate auctions

3. Find Estate Sales.net - search engine to find Estate Sales, Tag Sales, or Auctions

4. Everything But The House. Another online auction site, sellers get 50% - 85% of gross depending on item sales, additional fees to move items to warehouse, donate, or remove trash range from $1,000 - $4,000. Have an expanded market as they will mail items to auction winners.

5. Heritage Auctions. 877-HERITAGE (437-4824) or Bid@HA.com. The largest auction house in the US with locations in multiple cities and around the world. They offer free auction estimates and formal appraisals. 

6. Live Auctioneers - international audience of millions for bidding action in Art, antiques, Jewelry and Collectibles

 

TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR DONATIONS

1. IRS Guide to Determining the Value of Donated Property- Publication 561

2. The IRS says that the fair-market value of used clothing and household goods is the price that buyers would pay for them in a consignment or thrift shop. Keep in mind that for a tax deduction - the IRS allows taxpayers to report only donated items that were of good quality or higher when they were donated.

3. For any non-cash contributions totaling over $500, you will need to complete and attach IRS Form 8283 to your next tax return. For more deductibility information, consult an accountant and/or go to: http://www.irs.gov/charities/contributors/index.html

 

 

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