Recycling
and Donation Resources
The following nation-wide resources are provided to assist
companies and families to recycle and donate unwanted goods.
Over 99% of the things we purchase becomes trash within 6 months!
Please click on the category of item to find specific resources.
Please contact the organization directly for more detailed
information. If you do not see your category item mentioned,
click on ‘Additional Resources’ for a listing of
general recycling organizations that can offer more information.
Thank you for diverting your trash from the landfill!
Appliances
Goodwill, www.goodwill.org
Accepts only working appliances.
1-800-GOT JUNK? www.1800gotjunk.com
Will pick up old furniture, appliances, yard waste,
electronics and construction debris. Recycles items
that can be recycled.
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Batteries
Batteries Plus, www.batteriesplus.com
Across the country, Batteries Plus stores accept all batteries
for recycling.
Battery Solutions, Inc., www.batteryrecycling.com
Accepts batteries from around the country. There is a small
cost of .85 cents a pound to recycle your batteries which
goes to support the program.
Rechargeable Recycling Battery Corporation, www.rbrc.org
The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) can help you recycle your
portable rechargeable batteries. These batteries are commonly found in cordless
power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders,
digital cameras. They have drop off locations nationwide at Home Depot,
Sears, Target and Staples. See their website for specific locations.
Western Disposal, www.westerndisposal.com
Western Disposal, located in Boulder, CO, will accept all
household batteries from local Boulder County residents.
Batteries must be dropped off at their facility located
at 5880 Butte Mill Road, Boulder.
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Bikes
Community Cycles, www.communitycycles.org
A Boulder, Colorado based program that refurbishes
and recycles bikes for return back into the
community.
Working
Bikes Cooperative, www.workingbikes.org
An organization that collects used and old bikes
and ships them to developing countries in South
America and Africa. Drop off centers located throughout
the IL state area. For shipping information please
go to the website.
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Books
Blue Rectangle, www.bluerectangle.com/buyback
Will buy used books and textbooks. Go to their website
and log in the ISBN number to see if it is a book
they will take. If so, they pay for shipping with
our their postage-paid mailing label.
Books
for Africa, www.booksforafrica.org
This organization ships college text books, children's books, science and math
books, dictionaries to African schools. Books must be in excellent to good
condition. See website for more complete donation guidelines and shipping address.
Literacy Link, www.gilarangers.com/leamos
This is a volunteer tutoring program operating in a small, rural community in
Southwest New Mexico. They tutor adults and children, to those who are learning
English as second language or cannot afford to buy books for themselves. They
can use books for teens and adults primarily for their ESL Program. Donations
can be sent via mail to their offices directly.
Recycle
Books, www.recyclebooks.org
They offer an outlet to donate new and used, unwanted books, DVDs, CDs, VHS
tapes, textbooks, and software. They reuse most of the books donated. Books
of value are sold to raise money for their organization, some are donated to
other good causes and those books that cannot be placed are recycled for paper
content. Local pickup available in the Denver area or you can send books to
them from other national U.S. cities.
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Carpets
Carpet Recovery America Effort, www.carpetrecovery.org
Offers locations and sites across the U.S. that will recycle
carpet.
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Cars/Autos
Cars for Charity, www.CarsForCharity.net
A local Colorado
non-profit organization that accepts cars for use with other
non-profit organizations.
Vehicles
for Charity, www.vehiclesforcharity.org
A local Colorado organization that will pick up old cars, auction them off
and give the money to various local environmental non-profits in Colorado.
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Cell Phones
Altrusa International, 303.756.6158 (Marilyn Baker
), www.donateaphone.com
Local Colorado organization that accepts used mobile phones and donates them
to the Donate a Phone campaign.
CITA, www.recyclewirelessphones.com
CITA is a wireless foundation committed to minimize the
environmental impact of discarded cell phones. They
have an extensive site of locations across the country
to donate/recycle your old cell phone.
Call
to Protect, www.wirelessfoundation.org
They refurbish phones and donate them to domestic violence victims and professionals
Collective
Good, www.collectivegood.com/donate_phone.htm
Recycles and donates used mobile phones. Has over 50 different charities that
you can directly donate your phone to just be downloading the form.
Verizon Wireless, www.verizon.com
Will accept used cellular phones and will donate them to charity.
Wireless
Recycling, www.wirelessrecycling.com
A separate site sponsored by Recellular, Inc. a company
that refurbishes used cell phones. They donate phones
to major non-profit organizations around the world.
See site for specific drop off locations in your area.
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Children / Kids
Parenting
Place, www.boulderparenting.org
A non-profit based in Boulder that supports and educates local
families about parenting. They accept donations of
all children and baby items including clothing, toys,
books, art supplies and diapers.
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Clothing
Local
Thrift Stores (see under Thrift Stores in your local
directory)
American
Friends Service Committee, www.afsc.org/emap/clothing-donation.htm
Donates used clothing overseas to countries in
need or disaster
Career Closet, www.careercloset.org
Provides interview-appropriate clothing to disadvantaged women entering the workforce.
Accepts business attire, shoes, jewelry, scarves and coats. Plus size clothing
is needed. See website for locations to send or drop items off.
Dress
for Success, www.dressforsuccess.org
A nonprofit that helps outfit low-income women with apparel for job interviews.
Available in 24 cities.
Fairy Godmothers
Inc., www.fairygodmothersinc.com
Gives formal gowns, long bridesmaid dresses, dresses, shoes,
evening bags, jewelry to high school girls from low-income
families for their proms. Dresses must be fashionable and
in good condition. This organization distributes dresses
in the East coast area. See website for delivery addresses.
Making Memories
Breast Cancer Foundation, www.makingmemories.org
The
foundation sells used wedding dresses around the country to
fulfill the wishes of terminally ill breast cancer patients.
Accepts gowns, bridesmaids dresses, shoes, jewlry and other
wedding accessories.
One Warm Coat, www.onewarmcoat.org
Gives coats to needy individuals and has locations around
the country. Go to website to find a location in your area.
Patagonia, www.patagonia.com/recycle
Through their ‘Common Threads Garment Recycling
Program’, Patagonia will recycle customers worn
out Capilene® Performance Baselayers, Patagonia fleece,
Polartec® fleece from other manufacturers and Patagonia
organic cotton T-shirts. Items can be dropped off at retail
stores or sent to their Service Center in Reno, NV. See
website for address.
Salvation Army, www.salvationarmy.org
Will provide free pick up.
The Women's Alliance, www.thewomensalliance.org
Has alliance organizations around the country that provide business-attire clothing
to low income women. For drop off locations, visit http://www.thewomensalliance.org/members.htm
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Compost
Find a Composter, www.findacomposter.com
Offers a searchable data base to locate a composting
facility in your area nationwide.
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Computers / Electronics
Beyond the Pod, www.beyondthepod.com
They specialize in consumer electronics trade-in services.
They pay the consumer for discarded, broken or un-wanted
electronics. The consumer only pays for shipping. Available
to U.S. based consumers.
Computers for Community, massongoodwin@uswest.net
Collects computers and distributes them to people in the community, primarily
schools. Can accept MAC computer.
Computers for Schools, www.computersforschools.org
Sponsored by the Technology Training Foundation of America they offer a program
to have good computers donated to schools. See their 'how to donate' page for
specifics of computer configurations that they request.
Dell
Computers, www.dell4me.com/recycling
Customers who use the service receive on line discounts good for future purchases.
Eco Cycle, www.ecocycle.org
Eco cycle is based in Boulder and computer equipment can be dropped off at their ‘hard
to recycle’ location.
Electronic
Industries Alliance, www.eia.org
Provides consumers with information on recycling and reuse opportunities
for used electronics. Including state and local collection programs, charitable
organizations and recyclers that accept used electronics.
Electronics Recycling Initiative, www.nrc-recycle.org/resources/electronics
This organization is sponsored by the EPA and the US Postal Service. They have
an extensive list of computer recyclers in the country.
Executive Recycle, www.executiverecycle.com
A Colorado based electronic recycling company that recycles
most electronic equipment including computers, monitors,
printers, cell phones, copiers, typewriters, radio’s,
routers, telephone’s and even automotive electronics.
Free pick up is available. Telephone: 303.791.0808.
Guaranteed Recycling Xperts (GRX), www.grxrecycles.com
GRX, located in Denver, Colorado, is a computer and electronics recycling company
in the Rocky Mountain region that offers drop-off and pick-up service. GRX
is a genuine recycler (NO landfilling, NO incineration, and NO exporting to
third world countries) that guarantees data destruction.
My Boneyard, www.myboneyard.com
Offers free computer and electronics recycling across the
country and even pays for shipping. They also provide a
reward system for the more your recycle with their company.
Go to website to complete the online form and
they will email you a pre-paid shipping label.
Technology & Recycling, www.techrecycle.com
Will pick up and dismantle old computers in Denver, CO. Can only accept
large pick-ups from companies. Fee is charged.
Toshiba, http://toshiba.eztradein.com/toshiba
The Toshiba Trade-In and Recycle Program provides you with a way to trade-in
or recycle used, working technology products in exchange for a refund by mail.
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Copy Machines
Technology
Recycling, www.techrecycle.com
Will pick up and dismantle old copy machines in Denver, CO. Fee is charged,
check website for latest pricing.
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Construction and Building Materials
Resource
2000, www.resource2k.org
Accepts used and remaining construction materials.
C&A
Floor coverings, www.powerbond.com
Recycle old carpet and design it into new carpet. Deal with mainly corporate
and business offices.
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Discs (Floppy and CD-ROM)
CD Recycling Center of America, www.cdrecyclingcenter.com
They recycle CD/ DVD's and their packaging free, the only
cost you incur is shipping. Send directly to 68H Stiles
Road, Salem, NH 03079.
Green
Disk, www.greendisk.com/services.html
Will accept all computer discs and CD ROMs. Does not pay for shipping and charges
10 cents per pound to recycle.
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Eyeglasses
New Eyes for the Needy, www.neweyesfortheneedy.org
Distributes glasses free worldwide. Accepts plastic and
metal frames in any condition. Also accepts sunglasses
and hearing aids.
Unite for Sight, www.uniteforsight.org/donate_eyeglasses.php
Your eyeglasses (reading and distance) as well as non-prescription
sunglasses will be distributed to children and adults in
Nigeria, Malawi, Benin, Ghana, Uganda, Somalia, Cameroon,
Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania, India, and Thailand.
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Food
Emergence
Family Assistance Assoc., www.efaa.org
Will accept all dry goods that have not been opened. Donations can be dropped
off at the back door.
Community
Food Share, www.communityfoodshare.org
Accepts food donations
Denver
Rescue Mission, 303.294.0157
A shelter for the homeless that accepts can and non-perishable food items.
Food
Bank of the Rockies, www.foodbankrockies.org
Accepts food, desks, paint, and furniture. Can pick up items.
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Furniture & Housewares
Emergence
Family Assistance Assoc., www.efaa.org
Accepts all furniture for low-income families. Will pick up in Boulder, Louisville
and Longmont areas.
Salvation
Army, www.salvationarmy.org
Will provide free pick up for most large furniture items. Advance notice
must be given.
Human
Services, www.humanservicesinc.org
They offer programs to help families become self-sufficient. Will take donations
of household furniture and almost anything else. They can arrange for pick
up.
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Furs
The
Humane Society of the U.S., www.husus.org/furdonation
Will
accept real furs as donations. They send them to wildlife rehabilitators
who use the furs to comfort the orphaned wild baby animals they
find every year.
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Hangers
Local Dry Cleaners
Most local dry cleaners accept the wire hangers.
Thrift Shops
Accept plastic and or wood hangers.
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Light Bulbs and Lamps
Lamp Recycle, www.lamprecycle.org
Provides a list of resources nationwide on where to recycle
various types of light bulbs and lamps.
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Luggage / Suitcases
Suitcases for Kids, www.suitcasesforkids.org
Donates suitcases to foster children who move from home
to home. Suitcases are preferred but large duffel bags
and backpacks are also accepted.
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Medical Supplies
AmeriCares, www.americares.org/main.asp
Sends medical supplies to countries all over the world.
Rainforest
Health Project, www.rainforesthealth.org
Sends medical supplies to Peru’s isolated Amazon
villages.
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Office Supplies
Nature
Conservancy of Colorado, 303.444.2950
Accepts various office supplies and office furniture & equipment.
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Outdoor Gear
Passages Northwest, www.passagesnw.org/MakeAGift_GG.htm
This organization inspires girls and young women of diverse
backgrounds to discover leadership skills through outdoor
exploration. Takes tents, sleeping bags, day packs and
hiking boots for women or girls. Call 206-286-8601 to find
out where to send items to.
Play it Again Sports, www.playitagainsports.com/donategear.aspx
Donate used sports gear at local retail store ‘Play
it Again’. They donate to non-profit kids sports
programs.
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PDAs/ Handheld Computers
Collective
Good, www.collectivegood.com
Recycles and donates pagers, palm pilots, blackberries and Windows CE/
Mobile devices. The electronic devises can be dropped off at the same
locations as the mobile phone outlets.
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Peanuts and Packing Material
Plastic Loose Fill
Council, www.loosefillpackaging.com
Consumers can drop off their leftover plastic packing peanuts
at Peanut Hotline collection sites. There are over 1,500
collection sites in the US. Go to the site to enter your
state to find a location near you.
UPS
Brown Stores, www.ups.com
The UPS brown stores will accept clean bubble wrap and peanuts to reuse as
packing materials.
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Printer, Toner & Ink Jet Cartridges
Recycle
Free, www.recyclefree.com
Recycles empty inkjet and laser cartridges for FREE. They will pay $1 for each
returned cartridge. For envelopes go to your local CompUSA store.
Hard
Copy Recycling, www.hardcopyrecycling.siteblast.com
Recycles inkjet and laser cartridges
Hewlett-Packard’s
Planet Partners Recycling Program, www.hp.com/ljsuplies/environment
recycle.html
Xerox
Corp., www.xerox.com
Please select toner cartridge models to Xerox for free by way of UPS or US
Postal Service. Check the website for specifics on how to do this.
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Shoes
Eco-Cycle Hard-to-Recycle Items, www.ecocycle.org
Boulder-based Hard-to-Recycle items accepts old, worn tennis shoes that are made
into recycled flooring.
Nike
Reuse a Shoe, www.nikereuseashoe.com
Recycles shoes to foreign countries. Worn out shoes are recycled into courts,
tracks and playgrounds.
One World Running, www.boulderrunning.com/oneworldrunning/shoedrop.php
Since
1986, a group of runners in Boulder, Colorado, has collected,
washed and sent to Third World countries new and "near-new"
athletic shoes, T-shirts and shorts, along with medicine
and school and art supplies. Shoes in good condition can
be donated and sent or dropped off at the designated locations.
Soccer For Life, Inc. Special Project
- Project Athletic Shoes For Youth Empowerment, www.satglobal.com/project_athletic_shoes_for_build.htm
Soccer For Life, Inc is a non-profit organization which collects
sports gear, uniforms, soccer cleats, athletic shoes, and
sneakers and distributes them in Honduras. 954-812-7431
Sole 4 Souls, www.soles4souls.org
Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of shoes, which are used to aid the hurting
worldwide. Shoe companies, retailers, and individuals can donate footwear (both
new and used). Soles4Souls is a 501(c)3 recognized by the IRS, and donating
parties are eligible for tax advantages.
Wildize Foundation, www.wildize.org
This Colorado-based organization accepts hiking boots and
tennis shoes for the African Rangers who patrol the parks
and wilderness areas. Send items directly to them at: PO
Box 3078 Aspen, Colorado, USA 81612
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Sporting Goods
Skichair, www.skichair.com
Based out of Massachusetts, they makes chairs and ottomans
out of skis, snow boards, hockey sticks, baseball
bats and golf clubs. Also sells do-it-yourself
plans to create these items out of your own materials.
Reeski, www.reeski.com
This Aspen, CO based company reuses old skis and snowboards
and creates outdoor furniture and household items.
Green Mountain Ski Furniture, www.recycledskis.com
Based out of Vermont, they also reuse old skis to custom
build furniture or will resell old skis. They will
pick up in the New England area only. They will accept
shipments but will not pay the cost of shipping.
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Trophies & Old Placques
Creative Images, www.gccreativeimages.com/donate%20trophie.html
Send your old trophies and plaques to Creative
Images to be refurbished and
donated to nonprofit organizations such as Special
Olympics and School Children Groups that don't
have the money to spend on new trophies.
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Tyvek Envelopes
Dupont
Tyvek Recycling Program, http://www2.dupont.com/Tyvek_Envelopes/en_US/tech_info/tech_environ.html
Tyvek envelopes are made from #2
plastic and can be recycled however,
not in your regular curbside recycling
programs. Dupont has its own recycling
program for Tyvek envelopes and
can be mailed directly to: Tyvek® Recycle,
Attn. Shirley B. Wright, 2400 Elliham
Avenue #A, Richmond, VA 23237
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Video/Audio Cassettes
Eco-Media, www.ecomedia.net, recycling@ecomedia.net
Will send UPS forms for free delivery for 50+ pounds of videos. Will accept
VHS, Beta, Hi 8, and DV tapes.
Eco
Disk, www.ecodisk.com
Recycles all audio cassette tapes.
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Additional Recycling Resources
1-800-GOT JUNK? www.1800gotjunk.com
Will pick up old furniture, appliances, yard waste, electronics
and construction debris. Recycles items that can be recycled.
College Hunks Hauling Junk, www.1800JunkUSA.com
College Hunks Hauling Junk® provides collegiate teams to remove junk quickly
from anywhere within commercial or residential property. They donate a portion
of revenues from each job to local college scholarship programs.
Colorado
Recycles, www.colorado-recycles.org
Will give information about recycling centers in Colorado. Will send the Colorado
Recycling Directory at no charge.
Eco-Cycle, www.ecocycle.org
Eco-Cycle is a Boulder-based community recycling facility.
See website for complete details on recycling locations and
drop off locations.
Earth
911, www.earth911.org
This site offers recycling and reuse information for
almost anything. You can enter your zip code and it
will list recycling facilities or re-use options in
your area.
Excess Access, www.excessaccess.com
This organization matches up donors of goods to area non-profits,
schools, government organizations, etc., that have a designated
wish list of items needed.
Freecycle, www.freecycle.org
The Freecycle Network™ is made up of many individual
groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people
who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own
towns. Each local group is run by a local volunteer moderator.
See site for more details.
National Recycling Coalition, www.nrc-recycle.org
This is a national non-profit advocacy group with members that span all aspects
of waste reduction, reuse and recycling in North America.
Raymond
Communications, www.raymond.com
An organization that tracks global and state wide legislation on recycling.
It has newsletters of state recycling laws, electronic recycling and international
recycling laws.
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