The eco-fabulous website and blog Girlie Girl Army* recently posted some great tips on how to donate and recycle what you no longer need before the end of the year. I immediately thought that this is useful information all year round for mamas-to-be preparing for the arrival of their little one. With the permission of GGA, I’m sharing their great donation how-tos below.
Reposted from Girlie Girl Army: Clear out your closets by donating stuff you don’t need.
- Gift card balances: If they’re about to expire or you probably won’t use ‘em, donate ‘em here.
- Furs, jackets, and towels: Your local animal shelters or rescue groups will take them for use as bedding. Specifically recycle furs at coatsforcubs.org.
- Shoes: Programs like donateyouroldshoes.org will take your used ones for redistribution in the developing world, or for recycling.
- Electronics: Recycling and trade-in programs take your old gadgets, from cell phones to computers. You can donate or recycle computers here mygreenelectronics.org or here sharedtechnology.org. Cells can be donated tocellphonesforsoldiers.com for a tax write off or: rbrc.org.
- Videotapes/floppy disks: greendisk.org
- Appliances: recycle-steel.org
- Carpet: carpetrecovery.org
- Eyeglasses: Give the gift of site to donateglasses.org orneweyesfortheneedy.org.
- Cleaning and bath and body products: Shelters will often take even partially used containers.
- Books: Your local library will likely accept them. If not, donate them with your old clothes to the Salvation Army, or sell them on powells.com (they even pay for shipping!) and either use or donate the money.
- Tires: Can be recycled here: epa.gov/garbage/tires/live.htm. Autos and construction materials can be donated to most nonprofits.
- Send Half-Used Paint To: earth911.org
- Packing peanuts can be recycled here: loosefillpackaging.org
- Clothes: Drop them off at charities such as Goodwill or Dress for Success or Housing Works. Salvation Army will pick up if you have more than a few bags. Remember to ask for a tax reciept. You can donate biz clothes to dressforsuccess.org, and formaldresses to: operationfairydust.org.
For the male version of Dress for Success, you can donate to Career Gear. Career Gear gladly accepts new or gently used suits, dress shirts, pants, blazers, shoes, ties and belts for men. They especially need work wear for big and tall men. Have a big and tall man of your own? Get him a new suit for the new year and donate the gently used one to these guys. It’s a win win!
Have additional odds and ends to part with but don’t know the best way? NYCWasteLe$$ can tell you how to donate computer equipment, toner cartridges, art supplies, and even extra medication. All of their tips for the thoughtful New Yorker can be found here.
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