Clearing Clutter: Where to Donate Old and Used Items in New York
Here's where to donate makeup, sheets and towels, books, furniture, electronics, clothes, and almost anything you're looking to get out of your house.
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Interested in a more meaningful way to recycle your electronics? Consider supporting many nonprofits that work to shrink the digital divide while helping those in need, including:
Where can I donate clothes?
Everyone knows thrift stores are great for accepting pre-worn clothes, but did you know many major retailers also accept used clothing? Some even include a coupon toward your next purchase at the store. These include:
Patagonia
Used Patagonia products can be sent back to the company to be recycled or repurposed. Simply wash the items first and use one of the following collection methods to receive a store credit based on the item sent in: Drop clothes off at a Patagonia Retail Store or mail them to the Patagonia Service Center at Patagonia Service Center, 8550 White Fir St., Reno, NV, 89523-8939.
Madewell
Stop by any location with your used jeans (any brand, any condition), and the retailer will give them to the Blue Jeans Go Green program to turn them into housing insulation for communities in need. You’ll receive $20 off a new pair of jeans.
H&M
Bring your unwanted garments (any brand, any condition) in for recycling to any H&M store and receive a coupon toward your next purchase.
Levi’s
Consumers can drop off their no-longer-wanted clothing or shoes (any brand) into the collection boxes at their local Levi's store. Any consumer who brings an item of clothing to recycle will receive a voucher for 20 percent off a single, regular-priced Levi’s item in-store.
The North Face
Bring your used clothes (any brand, any condition) in for recycling at any location and earn a $10 reward toward your next purchase of $100 or more at any The North Face store. This below video gives more information about the company's Clothes the Loop Recycling Program that helps ensure worn clothes don't end up in landfills.
Give new life to old shoes
Some smaller independent companies turn old shoes and accessories into new works of art with custom designs. Kicks By Sammy has a custom kicks offering where customers send in their old shoes to have them sent back re-created with a totally new look.
Other Ways to Recycle Items You Want to Get Rid Of
DonateNYC
If you live in New York City, you can easily find a new home for almost anything you want to get rid of, from appliances, to baby care items, to musical instruments, to pet food. Visit the DonateNYC website, select the category of items you want to get rid of, and you’ll get a list of locations near you that accept those items as donations.
Facebook Marketplace
If you want to try your hand at selling a gently used item but don’t want to host a yard or stoop sale, check out Facebook Marketplace. You can post an item with a picture; enter the price, location, category of item, and more; and wait to see if anyone is interested.
Buy Nothing Facebook Groups
Another option on Facebook is to join your neighborhood or community’s Buy Nothing group. Once you’re in, all you have to do is post a picture of what you want to get rid of, include a short description and if it needs to be picked up by a certain date, and, eventually, someone will claim your item. But like the name of the group implies, you’re giving the items away for free (don’t expect to haggle a price).
At the end of the day, if you still have items around your home that you just don't know what to do with, think about ways they can be repurposed. Old shirts can become cleaning rags, candle jars can be turned into plant pots (or if you clean them out well enough, glassware), and shower caddies can be hung outside to hold plants. With some imagination, the possibilities can be endless.
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